Apologetic Issue for this week

How do I deal with a convert to Judaism?

What kind of God allows the innocent to suffer?

Can I bring Communion home to my pregnant wife?

Why do Catholics kiss the pope's feet?

Is there a right and a wrong way to pray?

Is it okay for Christians to celebrate Hanukkah?

Will I have to confess abortion again?

Why do we call the pope "Holy Father"?

How do I find a spiritual director?

What is the Church's beef with feminism?

Do I have to register with a parish?

Is it okay to serve at Mass while in mortal sin?

Should I convert to marry a Catholic?

When do we say "Amen"?

Should Christians celebrate Hanukkah?

ASK YOUR FAITH QUESTION

• Is there any proof Jesus existed?
• Speculating on the End Times
• Understanding infant baptism
• Thoughts on charismatic renewal
• The one-minute Catholic apologist
• Good apologetics books for beginners
• Is this the Catholic view on salvation?
• The Eucharist in Scripture and Catholic teaching.
• Discussion with co-worker
• Did Jesus have brothers?
• Once saved, always saved?
• Advent and the Second Coming
• Catholics on the moon!
• Confused about the prayer to saints
• Debating with a Calvinist about tradition

• Does the Bible promote drinking alcohol?
• Do you believe popes are sinless?
• Why don't Catholics quote Scripture?
• Where is "once saved, always saved" in the Bible?
• Why did Luther remove parts of Esther and Daniel?
• How does one explain "Son of Man"?
• Why are the epistles in Scripture?
• Do you believe popes are sinless?
• The most beautifully written Bible passage

• Science and religion
• Is deism logical?
• Where does God come from?
• Religion and science!
• Is modalism logically wrong?
• Aristotlian Thomism and Catholicism
• Checkmate in three moves
• What's wrong with this argument?
• If God exists, why would he be personal?

• The inner workings of a scrupulous mind
• Cosmetic surgery and vanity
• White lies in the confessional
• Is it okay to ask for your property back?
• "Feeling forgiveness" after confession
• The truth about contraception
• Should animals be stunned before slaughter?
• The Church and in-vitro fertilization
• Is the Church wrong about NFP?

St. John Chrysostom, “If anyone will contend that the Father is greater, inasmuch as He is the cause from which the Son proceeds, we will bear with him and this way of speaking, provided he grant that the Son is not of a different substance or nature.”

St. Hilary of Poitiers, “The Father is greater than the Son: but this is said in respect to generation – as a father is to a son – and not of classification…The possession of a paternal designation is permissive of a distinction; but there is no distinction as to nature.”

St. Basil the Great, “The Son is second in order from the Father, because He is from Him; and in dignity, because the Father is His origin and ca use…The Son is not, however, second to the Father in nature, because the Godhead is one in each of them.”

Either of these interpretations of John 14:28 are valid and are consistent with the rest of the New Testament.  As I did indeed point out in an earlier column, there are a good number of verses that directly, or indirectly, identify Jesus as God.  Both of the interpretations mentioned above fit perfectly well with all of those verses; whereas, an interpretation of John 14:28 that says Jesus is not God, is in direct contradiction to the rest of the New Testament.