{"id":16587,"date":"2016-12-09T00:00:39","date_gmt":"2016-12-09T06:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=16587"},"modified":"2019-11-16T10:27:30","modified_gmt":"2019-11-16T16:27:30","slug":"jesus-the-wise-builder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/","title":{"rendered":"Jesus, the Wise Builder","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"CENTER\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"470\" height=\"501\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>As I continue to study the &#8220;beast&#8221; of\u00a0Revelation 13, some fascinating things are emerging which I wish to pray and reflect on further before writing them. In the meantime, I am receiving letters of concern again about the growing division in the Church over\u00a0<\/em>Amoris Laetitia,\u00a0<em>the Pope&#8217;s recent Apostolic Exhortation. For the moment, I want to republish these\u00a0important points, lest we forget&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"fb-root\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<p><strong>SAINT<\/strong> John Paul II once wrote:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>&#8230;the future of the world stands in peril unless wiser people are forthcoming. <\/strong>\u2014<em>Familiaris Consortio, <\/em>n. 8<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">We need to pray for wisdom in these times, especially when the Church is under attack from all sides. In my lifetime, I have never seen such doubt, fears, and reservations from Catholics regarding the future of the Church, and in particular, the Holy Father. Not in little part due to some heretical private revelation, but also at times to some incomplete or abstruse statements from the Pope himself. As such, not a few\u00a0persist in the belief that Pope Francis is going to &#8220;destroy&#8221; the Church\u2014and\u00a0the rhetoric against him is becoming increasingly acrimonious. And so once again, without turning a blind eye to the growing divisions in the Church, my\u00a0top<em> seven <\/em>reasons why many\u00a0of these fears are baseless&#8230;<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><!--more--><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">I. Jesus is a &#8220;wise&#8221; builder<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Jesus said that He did nothing on His own, but only what the Father taught Him. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. John 8:28<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> In turn, He said to the Apostles:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, mono; font-size: small;\">Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. (Matt 7:24)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">The Father commanded Jesus to build a Church, and so, like a wise-builder, taking His own advice, He built it on &#8220;rock&#8221;.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, mono; font-size: small;\">And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. (Matt 16:18)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">St. Jerome, the great bible translator from whom the modern bible today has been derived, said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>I follow no leader but Christ and join in communion with none but your blessedness, that is, with the chair of Peter. I know that this is the rock on which the Church has been built.<\/strong> \u2014St. Jerome, A.D. 396 , <em>Letters<\/em> 15:2<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">So tell me then, is Jesus a wise builder or foolish one who builds on sand? That is, will the rock on which the Church has been built collapse into <em>complete\u00a0<\/em>apostasy, or will it stand against any storm, despite the personal weaknesses and sinfulness of the man who holds Peter&#8217;s office? What does 2000 years of sometimes shaky history tell you?<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">In the words of a wise prophet I know: &#8220;My bottom line is: stay with the &#8220;Chair&#8221; and the &#8220;Keys&#8221;, regardless of the man who occupies them, be he a great saint or seriously flawed in his pastoral approach.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><em>Stay on the rock.<\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">II. Infallibility must be infallible<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">How wise is Christ? Well, He knew that Peter was weak, despite his declaration of\u00a0faith. So the building of the Church, then, ultimately depends not upon man but upon Christ. &#8220;<em>I<\/em> will build <em>my<\/em> Church,&#8221; Jesus said.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>The fact that it is Peter who is called the &#8220;rock&#8221; is not due to any achievement on his part or to anything exceptional in his character; it is simply a <em>nomen officii<\/em>, a titled that designates, not a service rendered, but a ministry conferred, a divine election and commission to which no one is entitled solely by virtue of his own character \u2014least of all Simon, who, if we are to judge by his natural character, was anything but a rock<\/strong>. \u2014POPE BENEDICT XIV, from <em>Das neue Volk Gottes, <\/em>p. 80ff<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">But how could Jesus entrust fallible men with governing and safeguarding infallible truths that were to be passed on, not only hundreds, but thousands of years into the future? By imbuing the Church with the charism of <em>infallibility<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">The <em>Catechism<\/em> states:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000066; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">The whole body of the faithful&#8230; cannot err in matters of belief. This characteristic is shown in the supernatural appreciation of faith (<em>sensus fidei<\/em>) on the part of the whole people, when, from the bishops to the last of the faithful, they manifest a universal consent in matters of faith and morals<\/span>.<\/strong> \u2014<em>Catechism of the Catholic Church, <\/em>n. 92<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">But Pope Francis explains that this &#8220;sense&#8221; of the faithful &#8216;must not be confused with the sociological reality of majority opinion.&#8217;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>It is a question of a kind of \u2018spiritual instinct\u2019, which permits us to \u2018think with the Church\u2019 and discern what is<em> consistent with the apostolic faith and the spirit of the Gospel<\/em>.<\/strong> \u2014POPE FRANCIS, Address to members of the International Theological Commission, December 9th. 2013, <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.catholicherald.co.uk\/news\/2013\/12\/09\/sensus-fidelium-doesnt-mean-majority-opinion-francis-tells-theologians\/\">Catholic Herald<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Infallibility is the <em>grace <\/em>of the Holy Spirit watering the bud of divine revelation entrusted to the Apostles, called the &#8220;deposit of faith&#8221;, so that it faithfully grows and develops until the end of time as a <em>single<\/em> flowering of truth. This unity of truth is called <em>Sacred Tradition<\/em>\u00a0comprising\u00a0all that\u00a0flowers from the\u00a0bud (and that\u00a0pertains\u00a0to faith and morals), and which is also infallible.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000066; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">This infallibility extends as far as does the deposit of divine Revelation; it also extends to all those elements of doctrine, including morals, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, explained, or observed.<\/span><\/strong> \u2014<em>CCC, <\/em>n. 2035<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">The point is this: if at any time\u00a0in the past 2000 years the grace of infallibility were to be\u00a0obstructed by a rogue pope, then from that moment on the &#8220;saving truths&#8221; of our faith would risk being lost in the tides of subjectivity. Infallibility must be infallible. If the Pope, whom the Catechism teaches is the &#8220;<em>perpetual<\/em> and visible source and foundation of the unity&#8221;, <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\"><em>CCC, <\/em>n. 882<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> were to change the truths of our Faith through official declarations from the chair of Peter <em>(ex cathedra),<\/em> then the entire edifice would collapse.\u00a0Therefore, the Pope, who &#8220;enjoys this infallibility in virtue of his office&#8221; <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_3');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_3');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[3]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_3\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\"><em>CCC<\/em>, n. 891<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> pertaining to matters of faith and morals, must remain as Christ said He was: a <em>rock,<\/em>\u00a0or the Church can longer be infallible&#8230; and no one, from that moment on, can know with certainty the &#8220;saving truths of the faith.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">But how can the Pope, a mere human, remain faithful in this regard?<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">III. Jesus&#8217; prayer is efficacious<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">No pope, no matter how personally corrupt, has been able to alter\u00a0the infallible teachings of our Catholic Faith throughout two millennia. Because not only is Jesus a wise-builder, but He is our <em>High Priest before the Father<\/em>. And when He commissioned Peter to &#8220;feed my sheep,&#8221; He said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, mono; font-size: small;\">I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers. (Luke 22:32)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Are Jesus&#8217; prayers before the Father powerful? Does the Father answer Jesus&#8217; prayers? Does Jesus pray in unity with the Father or against His will?<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Peter and his successors are able to strengthen us, not necessarily because they have theological degrees, but because Jesus has prayed for them <em>that their faith may not fail <\/em>so they may<em> &#8220;strengthen&#8221;<\/em> their brothers.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">IV. No biblical prophecy that &#8220;Peter&#8221; will turn against the Church<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Despite the fact that St. Paul received a share in the &#8220;deposit of faith&#8221; by a direct revelation from Jesus, he submitted what he had received to Peter or &#8220;Cephas&#8221; (from the Aramaic, which means &#8220;rock&#8221;).<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, mono; font-size: small;\">I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Then another fourteen years later, he met again with Cephas and other Apostles to be certain that what he was preaching was in accord with the &#8220;traditions&#8221; <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_4');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_4');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[4]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_4\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. 2 Thess 2:25<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> they had received so that he <em>&#8220;might not be running, or have run, in vain.&#8221;<\/em> <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_5');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_5');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_5\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[5]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_5\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. Gal 2:2<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Now, part of the revelations Paul received pertained to the end times. And nearly everyone at that time expected the &#8220;last days&#8221; to unfold in their generation. Yet nowhere in Paul&#8217;s writings does he suggest that Peter, whom he calls a &#8220;pillar&#8221; in the Church, <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_6');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_6');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_6\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[6]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_6\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. Gal 2:9<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_6').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_6', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> is going to become a &#8220;false prophet&#8221; as one\u00a0modern &#8220;private revelation&#8221;\u00a0asserted not long ago. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_7');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_7');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_7\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[7]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_7\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">that of &#8220;Maria Divine Mercy&#8221;, whose messages have been condemned by her bishop<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_7').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_7', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> And yet, Paul was given seemingly vivid\u00a0revelations of the Antichrist and the deceptions that would come that God would permit to judge those who &#8220;have not believed the truth but approved wrongdoing&#8221;. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_8');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_8');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_8\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[8]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_8\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">2 Thess 2:11-12<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_8').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_8', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> What Paul does say of the Antichrist is this:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, mono; font-size: small;\">&#8230;you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. (2 Thess 2:6-7)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">I have already addressed the various interpretations of who or what this &#8220;restrainer&#8221; is. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_9');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_9');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_9\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[9]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_9\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/removing-the-restrainer\/\">Removing the Restrainer<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_9').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_9', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> While some of the Church Fathers saw it as the Roman Empire, I am beginning to wonder more and more if it is not the <em>Holy Father<\/em> himself. Pope Benedict XVI offered this powerful insight along that line:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>Abraham, the father of faith, is by his faith the rock that holds back chaos, the onrushing primordial flood of destruction, and thus sustains creation. Simon, the first to confess Jesus as the Christ\u2026 now becomes by virtue of his Abrahamic faith, which is renewed in Christ, the rock that stands against the impure tide of unbelief and its destruction of man. <\/strong>\u2014POPE BENEDICT XVI (Cardinal Ratzinger), <em>Called to Communion, Understanding the Church Today<\/em>, Adrian Walker, Tr., p. 55-56<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">This might also explain why St. Paul was purposely veiled when he referred to the restrainer, refusing to name who it was. Perhaps it was to protect Peter from becoming a direct target by the Church&#8217;s enemies. Perhaps it has remained veiled throughout the centuries for the very same reasons, until now&#8230; If anything, the testimony of Paul suggests his faithfulness to and communion with Peter\u2014not fear of him.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">V. Fatima, and the martyr pope<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Interestingly, Sr. Lucia, in her visions at Fatima, saw that the &#8220;Holy Father has much to suffer&#8221;:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>&#8230;the Holy Father passed through a big city half in ruins and half trembling with halting step, afflicted with pain and sorrow, he prayed for the souls of the corpses he met on his way; having reached the top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross he was killed by a group of soldiers who fired bullets and arrows at him, and in the same way there died one after another the other Bishops, Priests, men and women Religious, and various lay people of different ranks and positions. <\/strong>\u2014<em>The Message at Fatima, <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/roman_curia\/congregations\/cfaith\/documents\/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000626_message-fatima_en.html\">vatican.va<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">This is a prophecy that has been <em>approved <\/em>by Rome. Does this sound like a Pope who is betraying the Church, or laying down his life for it? It also sounds like a pontiff who is like a &#8220;restrainer&#8221; that, once &#8220;removed&#8221;, is followed by a tide of martyrs and <em>lawlessness. <\/em><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">VI. Pope Francis is not an &#8220;anti-pope&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">An anti-pope, by definition, is a pope who has taken the seat of Peter either by force or by an invalid election. It has been asserted again by recent &#8220;private revelation&#8221;, which has gained astonishing traction among some of the faithful, that Pope Francis is a false pope and the &#8220;false prophet&#8221; in the book of Revelation.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>My beloved Pope Benedict XVI is the last true Pope on this earth&#8230; This Pope [Francis] may be elected by members within the Catholic Church but he will be the False Prophet. \u2014<\/strong>from &#8220;Maria Divine Mercy&#8221;, April 12th, 2012, whose messages her <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dublindiocese.ie\/content\/statement-maria-divine-mercy\">bishop declared<\/a> to have &#8216;no ecclesiastical approval&#8217; and that &#8216;many of the texts are in contradiction with Catholic theology.&#8217; He stated that &#8216;These messages should not be promoted or made use of within Catholic Church associations.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Aside from the heresy of anti-papalism, the alleged prophecy is a theological impossibility. If he is a valid pope, he holds the &#8220;keys of the kingdom,&#8221; and Christ would not contradict himself. In a rather strong rebuke of those who are following this line of thought, Pope Benedict stated:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\">There is absolutely no doubt regarding the validity of my resignation from the Petrine ministry. The only condition for the validity of my resignation is the complete freedom of my decision. Speculations regarding its validity are simply absurd\u2026 [My] last and final job [is] to support [Pope Francis&#8217;] pontificate with prayer. <\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u2014POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT XVI Vatican City, Feb. 26th, 2014;\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.zenit.org\/en\/articles\/benedict-xvi-says-doubts-on-resignation-are-absurd?utm_campaign=dailyhtml&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=dispatch\">Zenit.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">If there was a man on earth who would know if Pope Francis is a valid pope or not, it would be Benedict who spent decades of his life fighting the apostasy that has besieged the Church.<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">VII. Jesus is the Admiral of His Ship<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">The Pope may be at the helm of the Barque of Peter, but Jesus is the admiral of this Ship.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>&#8230;it is by the Lord and through the grace of the Lord that [Peter] is the rock on which the Church stands.<\/strong> \u2014POPE BENEDICT XIV, from <em>Das neue Volk Gottes, <\/em>p. 80ff<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">Jesus is not a wise builder who simply walks away. He\u00a0is still building, and will continue until the end of the world. Nor will Jesus let anyone destroy His Church\u2014that&#8217;s His promise\u2014even though it may be reduced in number and stature. Even should we face\u00a0a &#8220;Peter and Paul moment&#8221; where a pope needs to be fraternally corrected as Paul once admonished\u00a0Peter,<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_10');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_16587_1('footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_10');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_10\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[10]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_10\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. Gal 2:11-14<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_10').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_16587_1_10', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> it is part of the infallible guidance of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p align=\"LEFT\">The Church is not done her journey. The end of the world is not nigh, but the end of an age. There is still the last phase, the great Triumph of Our Lady and the Church that is yet to come. And it is Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, who guides and leads and safeguards His Church. Because, after all, we are <em>His Bride. <\/em>What groom is not absolutely protective, doting, and totally in love with his Bride? And so He builds&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>God does not want a house built by men, but faithfulness to his word, to his plan. It is God himself who builds the house, but from living stones sealed by his Spirit.<\/strong> \u2014POPE FRANCIS, Installation Homily, March 19th, 2013<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8230;<em>wisely<\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><strong>Christ is the center, not the Successor of Peter. Christ is the reference point at the heart of the Church, without Him, Peter and the Church would not exist. <\/strong>\u2014POPE FRANCIS, March 16th, meeting with the press<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let us pray that the Holy Father will remain steadfast in the words\u00a0he\u00a0proclaimed at the end of the first Synod on the Family:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>The Pope, in this context, is not the supreme lord but rather the supreme servant \u2013 the \u201cservant of the servants of God\u201d; the guarantor of the obedience and the conformity of the Church to the will of God, to the Gospel of Christ, and to the Tradition of the Church,\u00a0<em>putting aside every personal whim<\/em>, despite being \u2013 by the will of Christ Himself \u2013 the \u201csupreme Pastor and Teacher of all the faithful\u201d and despite enjoying \u201csupreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power in the Church\u201d.<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014POPE FRANCIS, closing remarks on the Synod;\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/pope-francis-closing-synod-speech-received-with-standing-ovation-92979\/\"><em>Catholic News Agency<\/em><\/a>, October 18th, 2014 (my emphasis)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>First published October 9th, 2014.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Thanks for your prayers and support.<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/donate\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Donateovalbtnonbeige.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"48\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\">&#8220;A powerful book&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/store\/?sort=newest\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-16012\" style=\"margin-right: 2px; margin-left: 2px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/TREE3bkstk3D.jpg\" alt=\"TREE3bkstk3D.jpg\" width=\"185\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/TREE3bkstk3D.jpg 255w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/TREE3bkstk3D-252x300.jpg 252w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 185px) 100vw, 185px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/store\/?sort=newest\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">THE TREE<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">by <br \/>\n<\/span><\/strong><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Denise Mallett<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>Calling Denise Mallett an incredibly gifted author is an understatement! <em>The Tree<\/em> is captivating and beautifully written. I keep on asking myself, \u201cHow can somebody write something like this?\u201d Speechless.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">\u2014Ken Yasinski, <em>Catholic speaker, author &amp; founder of FacetoFace Ministries<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #000000; text-align: center;\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>From the first word to the last I was captivated, suspended between awe and amazement. How did one so young write such intricate plot lines, such complex characters, such compelling dialogue? How had a mere teenager mastered the craft of writing, not just with proficiency, but with depth of feeling? How could she treat profound themes so deftly without the least bit of preachiness? I am still in awe. Clearly the hand of God is in this gift. Just as He has granted you every grace thus far, may He continue to lead you on the path He has chosen for you from all eternity. <br \/>\n<\/strong>\u2014<em>Janet Klasson, author of <\/em><a href=\"http:\/\/pelianito.stblogs.com\">The Pelianito Journal Blog<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>The Tree<\/em> is an exceptionally promising work of fiction from a young, gifted writer, filled with Christian imagination focusing on the struggle between light and darkness.<\/span><\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">\u2014ArchBishop Don Bolen, <em>Archdiocese of Regina, Saskatchewan<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/store\/?sort=newest\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><em>ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><a href=\"http:\/\/store.markmallett.com\/store\/?sort=newest\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-16016\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Tree-Book.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"313\" height=\"394\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Tree-Book.jpg 446w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Tree-Book-238x300.jpg 238w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 313px) 100vw, 313px\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<br \/>\nNOTE: Free shipping on all orders over $75. <b>Buy 2, get 1 Free<\/b>!<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">To receive <strong><em>The <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>Now Word<\/strong><\/em>,<br \/>\nclick on the banner below to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\">subscribe<\/a>. <br \/>\nYour email will not be shared with anyone.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12200 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner.png\" alt=\"NowWord Banner\" width=\"463\" height=\"148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner.png 798w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner-300x97.png 300w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/NowWord-Banner-768x247.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\">Join Mark on Facebook and Twitter!<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Mark-Mallett\/479309778804431\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Facebooklogo.png\" alt=\"Facebooklogo\" width=\"98\" height=\"98\" \/><\/a><\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarkMallett2\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Twitterlogo.png\" alt=\"Twitterlogo\" width=\"98\" height=\"98\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"speaker-mute footnotes_reference_container\"> <div class=\"footnote_container_prepare\"><p><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_label pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_16587_1();\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/span><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button\" style=\"display: none;\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_16587_1();\">[<a id=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_16587_1\">+<\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/div> <div id=\"footnote_references_container_16587_1\" style=\"\"><table class=\"footnotes_table footnote-reference-container\"><caption class=\"accessibility\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/caption> <tbody> \r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_1');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>1<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. John 8:28<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_2');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>2<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\"><em>CCC, <\/em>n. 882<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_3');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>3<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\"><em>CCC<\/em>, n. 891<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_4');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>4<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. 2 Thess 2:25<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_5\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_5');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>5<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. Gal 2:2<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_6\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_6');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>6<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. Gal 2:9<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_7\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_7');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>7<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">that of &#8220;Maria Divine Mercy&#8221;, whose messages have been condemned by her bishop<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_8\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_8');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>8<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">2 Thess 2:11-12<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_9\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_9');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>9<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/removing-the-restrainer\/\">Removing the Restrainer<\/a><\/em><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_16587_1_10\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_16587_1_10');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>10<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. Gal 2:11-14<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> function footnote_expand_reference_container_16587_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_16587_1').show(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_16587_1').text('\u2212'); } function footnote_collapse_reference_container_16587_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_16587_1').hide(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_16587_1').text('+'); } function footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_16587_1() { if (jQuery('#footnote_references_container_16587_1').is(':hidden')) { footnote_expand_reference_container_16587_1(); } else { footnote_collapse_reference_container_16587_1(); } } function footnote_moveToReference_16587_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_16587_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } } function footnote_moveToAnchor_16587_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_16587_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; As I continue to study the &#8220;beast&#8221; of\u00a0Revelation 13, some fascinating things are emerging which I wish to pray and reflect on further before writing them. In the meantime, I am receiving letters of concern again about the growing division in the Church over\u00a0Amoris Laetitia,\u00a0the Pope&#8217;s recent Apostolic Exhortation. For the moment, I want [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-journal","category-faith-and-morals"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Jesus, the Wise Builder - The Now Word<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Jesus, the Wise Builder - The Now Word\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; As I continue to study the &#8220;beast&#8221; of\u00a0Revelation 13, some fascinating things are emerging which I wish to pray and reflect on further before writing them. In the meantime, I am receiving letters of concern again about the growing division in the Church over\u00a0Amoris Laetitia,\u00a0the Pope&#8217;s recent Apostolic Exhortation. For the moment, I want [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Now Word\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-12-09T06:00:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-11-16T16:27:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mark\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mark\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mark\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\"},\"headline\":\"Jesus, the Wise Builder\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-12-09T06:00:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-11-16T16:27:30+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2801,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/10\\\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"HOME\",\"FAITH AND MORALS\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/\",\"name\":\"Jesus, the Wise Builder - The Now Word\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/10\\\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2016-12-09T06:00:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-11-16T16:27:30+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/10\\\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/10\\\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg\",\"width\":470,\"height\":501},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/jesus-the-wise-builder\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Jesus, the Wise Builder\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Now Word\",\"description\":\"\u2014 With Mark Mallett \u2014\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\"},{\"@type\":[\"Person\",\"Organization\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a\",\"name\":\"Mark\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-CA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/08\\\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/08\\\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/08\\\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Mark\"},\"logo\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.markmallett.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/08\\\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Jesus, the Wise Builder - The Now Word","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Jesus, the Wise Builder - The Now Word","og_description":"&nbsp; As I continue to study the &#8220;beast&#8221; of\u00a0Revelation 13, some fascinating things are emerging which I wish to pray and reflect on further before writing them. In the meantime, I am receiving letters of concern again about the growing division in the Church over\u00a0Amoris Laetitia,\u00a0the Pope&#8217;s recent Apostolic Exhortation. For the moment, I want [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/","og_site_name":"The Now Word","article_published_time":"2016-12-09T06:00:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2019-11-16T16:27:30+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"author":"Mark","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mark","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/"},"author":{"name":"Mark","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a"},"headline":"Jesus, the Wise Builder","datePublished":"2016-12-09T06:00:39+00:00","dateModified":"2019-11-16T16:27:30+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/"},"wordCount":2801,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg","articleSection":["HOME","FAITH AND MORALS"],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/","url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/","name":"Jesus, the Wise Builder - The Now Word","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg","datePublished":"2016-12-09T06:00:39+00:00","dateModified":"2019-11-16T16:27:30+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-CA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/JesusBuild3_001.jpg","width":470,"height":501},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/jesus-the-wise-builder\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Jesus, the Wise Builder"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/","name":"The Now Word","description":"\u2014 With Mark Mallett \u2014","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-CA"},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/000af5cf476f9c725d5bc45f722aa99a","name":"Mark","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-CA","@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Mark"},"logo":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/cropped-hurricaneearth_Fotor2.jpg"}}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16587"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38073,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16587\/revisions\/38073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}