[Greek] διαφέρω (diapherō), [Latin] melior, [Latin] transferre, [Latin] disseminare, [Latin] supervenire, [Latin] differtus, [French] transporter, [French] reporter, [French] transcrire, [French] agresser: to transmit, to divide, to distinguish, to spread, to carry through, to differ, to bear apart, to be better; Mt.6:26, Mt.10:31, Mt.12:12, Mk.11:16, Lk.12:7,24, Acts 13:49, Acts 27:27, Rom. 2:18, 1Cor.15:41, Gal.2:6, Gal.4:1, Php.1:10
Pope Agatho was the 79th Pope who led the Church from 678-681 AD. The Church at this time was dealing with Monothelitism (the heresy of Jesus having only one will). This heresy was in contrast to established Church teaching (Jesus having both a divine and human will). The Church has historically been dealing with heresies.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to carry through, to navigate, to excel, to stand out, to pass, to bear, to surpass, to be important, and to differ.
Plato’s Apology 35a: “To be superior in wisdom or courage.”
Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus 321: “You will bear your burden.”
Demosthenes Erotic Essay 61.46: “He admirably and considerably spread his record of his achievements.”
Herodotus’ The Histories 4.138: “Histiaeus opposed the plan [voted differently]”
Euripides’ Orestis 251: “Then you be different from that evil brood.”
Old Testament: This term means to transmit, to change, to take away, to scatter, to divide, to differ, to be distinguished, and to be superior, to being alienated, being changed, and doing something different.
New Testament: This term means to spread, to become more valuable, to differ, to be important, and to drive about.
Scripture:
Mt.6:26: “Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more important than they?” (Jesus refers to dependence on God. Although Jesus does not deny the reality of human needs, He warns each of us not to be a “slave” to these worries.)
Mk.11:16: “Jesus did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.” (The buying and selling were being done in the court of the Gentiles, the outermost court of the temple area. Of course, the Jews would place these buyers and sellers in this area, designated for the Gentiles. Jesus was angry in that it curtailed His efforts to reach the Gentiles.)
Mt.12:12: “How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” (The Jews had already made provisions to help the animals on the sabbath. Jesus points out the important need to help out man. Jesus healed the man’s withered hand and soon received the anger from the Jews.)
Php.1:9-10: “[Paul]: this is my prayer: that you increase every more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” (Paul calls each of us to properly distinguish between right and wrong and good and bad. One must be both intelligent and discriminating (making good choices.)
Etymology: The Greek verb diaphero means to carry (-phero) through (-dia). The Latin noun melior means better. The Latin verb transferre means to transform, to bring across, and to translate. The Latin verb disseminare means to scatter or to sow. The Latin verb supervenire means to surpass, to come up, and to surprise.
The Vatican’s new synodal Penitential Celebration (Oct.1, 2024):
- The Penitential Liturgy is intended to direct the work of the Synod towards the beginning of a new way of being Church. (WHY DOES JESUS’ CHURCH NEED TO BECOME A NEW CHURCH???)
- There will be testimonies of social sins: the sin of abuse, the sin of war, the sin of indifference (migrations). (Sounds like pandering and virtue signaling to the world.)
- Confessions of new sins will take place: sin against peace, sin against migrants, (listening), sin against creation.
- Sin of using doctrine as stones to be hurled: (So a faithful Catholic is likened to a rigid Pharisee or a stone-throwing Jew???)
- Sin against synodality (listening). (So keeping Tradition and opposing synodality are sins???)
- This sounds like creating a new Church. (Are you saying that Jesus did not get His Church right???)
- This is classic textbook Modernism on full display. (This is the Modernism that Pope Pius X warned us about!)
Pope Francis continues to dig himself deeper in making questionable statements DIFFERENT from stated Catholic teachings:
- “Every religion is a way to arrive at God.”
- “All religions lead to God.”
- “Divine inspiration is present in every faith.” (He has now tripled down in troublesome statements!)
- Popesplainers can often cause great confusion for the laity about the differences between actual papal infallibility and neo-Montanistic hyperpapalism (“doctrine of the Holy Father”)
Quotes:
Dutch Bishop Johannes Hendricks:
“The younger ones are going in the opposite direction again: to the roots of our faith. It is the older ones who are coming up with themes of the Pastoral Council of that time [comparable to the heretical Synodal Way in Germany.” (While many of the older generation are still demanding heterodox “reforms” along the lines of the German Synodal Way, young Catholics are returning to Tradition.)
Archbishop Fulton Sheen: (VERY INSTRUCTIVE AND ILLUMINATING!)
“Tolerance and intolerance apply to TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. Tolerance applies only to persons, but never to principles.” (Oftentimes, we equate or even juxtapose tolerance and intolerance. In our culture, there is now a clamoring for tolerance of sinful behavior. If you criticize those who engage in sinful behavior, you may even be deemed as intolerant.)
“Intolerance applies only to principles, but never to persons.” (We often lose sight of that principles [like doctrine] should and must be upheld. Instead, these principles [doctrine] are often changed and modified under the guise of wanting to show tolerance toward others. This is an example of false compassion.)
“We must be tolerant to persons because they are human; we must be intolerant about principles because they are divine.” (Jesus reminds us that that we are called to hate the sin but love the sinner. But unfortunately, this is message is often not heard.)
“We must be tolerant to the erring, because ignorance may have led them astray; but we must be intolerant to the error, because Truth is not our making but God’s” (Jesus associated with sinners, BUT HE DID NOT ACCEPT OR APPROVE OF THEIR SINFUL BEHAVIOR. Jesus forgives us but also calls us to SIN NO MORE. Yet, this message is often forgotten, ignored, or disregarded.)
Conclusion:
Differ, difference, ameliorate, transfer, transport, transmit, report, transcribe, disseminate, propagate, supervene, aggressive, aggressor
Update: Pope Agatho WARNS US ABOUT INTRODUCING ANOTHER FAITH AND NOVEL DOCTRINES: “We must have a new way of being Church” ==> a Synodal Church walking with the world
Many of us (myself included) can easily become trapped in our fears. We all should have more trust in God (although it can quite often be easier said than done!)
I think we all must be reminded that Jesus can get angry. Let’s also not yet forgot that Jesus hates the beliefs (actions) of those who have a luke-warm faith.
Jesus was being very provocative in healing on the Sabbath. In today’s times, someone saying: “Jesus said to “sin no more” can be also seen as very provocative in this morally and cultural permissive age. This is perhaps why this is not often mentioned. Are you surprised?
Paul’s warning for one to discern what is right and wrong becomes all the more imperative for today.
Clergy has an important and grave responsibility in upholding doctrinal principles (being intolerant to sin) and in stating what is sinful. One’s eternal mortal soul could be at state. Ultimately, the Church’s greatest responsibility is to bring souls into heaven.
To all the popesplainers: your efforts will not make a bit of difference if you are only scrubbing the internet for quotes of what Pope Francis had really meant to say. What about Pope Francis’ troubling statements about salvation!
The heresy of indifferentism essentially comes from one’s failure to uphold the doctrinal principle that Christ and His Church are the only means for salvation. ONE MUST BE INTOLERABLE IN UPHOLDING THIS TEACHING!
In our secular post-Christian culture, many cannot separate or even recognize the sin from the person. The sin often becomes the default behavior and lifestyle of that person.
- In my conversation with a popesplainer, I mentioned that a certain sin often continues to be ignored, de-stigmatized, or even normalized (making it more acceptable in this culture).
- In response, that popesplainer stated that these same people are being stigmatized. It is sinful to exclude these people. He focuses more on the person’s behavior rather than the sin and Church’s teachings!
- This popesplainer stated that the Church’s teachings are harmful. LET THAT SINK IN!
- As you can see, these are quite different viewpoints regarding doctrine, sin, tolerance, and intolerance.
Our presidential candidates’ differences cannot be more stark: Donald Trump, very open to reporters and interviewers and Kamala Harris: rarely seen giving interviews.
Our Church has reached an important inflection point:
- Younger generations are seeking deeper meaning in faith. (Younger people ==> Tradition.)
- Older generations (Modernists and progressives) are continuing the path of Vatican II. (Older generations ==> Modernism)
- Vatican II continues to “walk” with the world. (Vatican Synodal Church ==> German Synodal Church ==> Modernism)
You know times are somewhat different (in a good way) when more people are asking:
- “Should we stop using Eucharistic ministers?”
- “Should we bring back kneeling rails for receiving the Eucharist?”
- “Should we stop receiving the Eucharist in the hands?”
- “Should the priests celebrate the Mass not facing the congregation?”
- THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CLEARLY AT WORK!
“There’s a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him.” St. Augustine
“How monotonously alike the great tyrants and conquerors have been: how gloriously different are the saints.” C S Lewis.
Next post: the way