Dr. John Bergsma - Being the Face of the Father for Others - 2015 Steubenville PDS

[@MarilynBoussaid-yd1vk]

Thank you for this wonderful conference. Thank you for pointing out the reality of becoming children of God, as contrasted with a vague, symbolic childhood. I get very upset when I hear a priest, or anyone, say that “We are all children of God,” meaning every human being on the planet. I remember after having a dramatic conversion experience in 1990, spontaneously singing a song I made up in the moment, in which I called out, “Father!” - addressing God this way for the first time in my life. I asked the Lord to find me my church before Easter, and within a month the Lord led me to the Catholic Church, just in time for Good Friday. My first Mass was on Easter Sunday, and afterwards I went to the priest, asking for immediate baptism. I thought we could trot right down to the beach and he would dunk me in the ocean. He very gently explained to me that “We don’t do things that way.” He suggested I make an appointment with him, and a few days later I was in his office telling him how fantastic the Lord is and talking his ear off for two hours about my conversion and my month-long journey as a beloved child of God. He listened very patiently. I had been tuning in to Christian radio on the way to work during that wonderful month, and so my first (and only) question to that priest was, “Why are you called Father, when the Bible says ….?” This is actually funny since I was never a Protestant, I was Jewish. I picked up this “objection” from my short exposure to Christian radio. The priest explained patiently, and since I knew that Jesus had brought me to the Catholic Church, that was the end of my questions. That was a Franciscan parish and the priest who was so kind to me later became the Franciscan Provincial. In fact, all the priests I’ve encountered in 34 years have been wonderful in their own unique ways. I am always amazed at the special graces God gives to His priests. It’s very noticeable. God bless anyone who is reading this. Please say a prayer for my family. I am the only Catholic - living proof that the Lord leaves the 99 who didn’t stray, and goes after the lost and the least.

[@susannestorm9705]

❤

[@paulstrassel8326]

Bergsma is a good scholar but the scholars at Catholic University of Louvain are much better read.

[@andrewpearson1903]

What sets him apart is that he combines his learning with Catholic doctrine and spirituality to come up with hortatory lectures like this one. I think he & Scott Hahn & Brant Pitre & others are doing a huge work right now, preparing a pro-Catholic take on Biblical studies for a popular audience. For us regular Catholics, an ounce of practicable Scriptural insight is worth a pound of monographs and critical editions.

[@rae-michellel6878]

@@andrewpearson1903Amen brother!