“The important thing that God seems to want to be doing in history is to create a community of compassion where people care about one another.” (Fr. Richard Rohr) I like this statement. When I reflect on the Church as a community of compassion I think of 3 levels of compassion: 1. A General call for all Christians to have compassion for all other humans. 2. Self-compassion. 3. Compassion on the part of the bishops for the people of the Church. In this Faith Talk I reflect on these 3 levels of compassion with the help of Scripture, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, and Fr. Richard Rohr.

Faith Talk with Anita You Tube videos: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FaithTalkWithAnita/videos

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Scripture Cited: Mark 1:40-41, Matthew 20:34, Luke 7:11-15, Matthew 14:14, Matthew 7: 12, Matthew 22:37-40, John 21: 15-17, John 8:10-11, John 12:47

Other Sources Cited:

Fr. Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, September 17, 2023.

Catechism of the Catholic Church.

This Faith Talk was inspired by a few friends who find it difficult to remain faithful to the Church. In this episode I reflect on my own experiences with this issue. Can I live faithfully to the teachings of Jesus and at the same time accept and follow many of the teachings and guidelines put in place by the bishops, including the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis? Can I reconcile much of what the bishops say with Jesus’ message of equity, compassion, inclusion, forgiveness, and love? I will answer those questions in this Faith Talk. My intention is not to tell others how to live their faith. I only want to share my journey in hopes that it will be helpful to others as they walk their own path.

Faith Talk with Anita You Tube videos: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FaithTalkWithAnita/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faith_talk_with_anita/

Faith Talk Videos cited:

Episode 6: Did Jesus Make the All-Male Clergy? https://youtu.be/p7UOE-kOJLY

Episode 7: A Plea for Fair Treatment of the LGBTQ Community within the Church. https://youtu.be/kxg4iNYGeNQ

Episode 16: It’s Time to Change the Annulment Process. https://youtu.be/cT3ahR2B7is

In this Faith Talk I reflect on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi, through the lens of the liturgical readings for the day. This is a significant feast day for Catholics because we believe that during the Mass, the sacrificial bread and wine become, through the power of the Holy Spirit, The Body and Blood of Christ. We believe Christ to be present in the bread and wine - not just symbolically, but truly present. In this reflection, I will share scripture passages from the Old and New Testaments, as well as my own personal thoughts on the meaning and significance of this Catholic dogma.

Faith Talk with Anita You Tube videos: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@FaithTalkWithAnita/videos

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faith_talk_with_anita/

Scripture Cited: Acts 2:42-46, Mark 14:22-26, John 6:31-35, Exodus 24:3-8, Hebrews 9:11-15