Build on Rock - Page 2 of 7 - Sharing the faith in God's beloved Son, Jesus Christ

No Communion Without Suffering

August 2, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

In a fallen world there can be no communion without suffering. (1) God will not give us more suffering than we can handle. All that we need to do is accept His grace. Our suffering, united to the Lord’s Passion, will bring us into communion with Him. He suffered for

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Catholic Charity

July 12, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

In the year 361 A.D., Flavius Claudius Julianus became the new Roman emperor. A nephew of Constantine, he is known as Julian the Apostate, for he was the last pagan Roman emperor, and he desired to convert the people he ruled away from Christianity and back to the pagan beliefs

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“These Little Ones”

June 21, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

If the child is wanted, the parents share ultrasound pictures of the baby with their family and friends. “Here is his arm.” “Here are her legs.” “Look at his face.” “Look at her little nose!” The parents (often times) will tell if you if they’re having a boy or a

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A Sign in the Heavens

June 7, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

“But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:36) We do not know the day and hour when the Lord will return. Nor, for that matter, do we know the day and hour when we will depart

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That They May All Be One: John 17

May 24, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

On the eve of his Passion, what did the Son ask of the Father? “Give glory to your son.” Through following the will of His Heavenly Father to the end on the cross, Jesus gives glory to His Father, and receives glory through His Resurrection. The Father raises Him up

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John 17

May 10, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

At this point in the discourse, Jesus no longer addresses his apostles. He prays to His Heavenly Father. In Luke’s gospel, the apostles ask Jesus to teach them to pray, and He teaches them the Our Father. But in this one chapter of John’s gospel, we are given the grace

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The Resurrection: Five Facts

April 16, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

In The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, scholars Gary Habermas and Michael Licona make a simple but elegant argument that Jesus truly rose from the dead. Their argument does not rely on acceptance of the divine inspiration of the Bible. Rather, their case rests upon five facts agreed to

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Complete forgiveness of sins

April 6, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

“My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of

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John 16: “I have conquered the world”

March 30, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

“But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go,

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Abide in My Love: John 15

March 15, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I

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A Prayer for Ukraine

March 1, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

In 1934, Saint Faustina prayed for her native country of Poland. She recorded her prayer, and the response of our Lord, in her diary, entry 286. I trust Saint Faustina will not mind if we offer this prayer for Ukraine today: “Most merciful Jesus, I beseech you through the intercession

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John 14

February 16, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

Jesus’ most famous discourse in the gospels is the Sermon on the Mount, found in St. Matthew’s gospel, chapters 5-7. It contains some of Jesus’ deepest moral teachings, as He tells us how we are to orient our hearts to love of God and our neighbor. The Last Supper Discourse,

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Catholic Social Teaching

February 1, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

This week’s post looks at the final four principles of Catholic Social Teaching. (4) Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: Both the Old and New Testament speak repeatedly to our obligation to show special concern for the poor and vulnerable. Jesus spoke of His concern for the poor many times:

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Catholic Social Teaching

January 18, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

Jesus was not a politician. He pointedly did not seek any earthly power. He did not explain what kind of government would be best or what levels of taxation are appropriate. Politicians tread dangerously when they, in effect, seek His endorsement for their own ideologies. And yet, His teachings, because

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Relativism and Truth

January 4, 2022 / Michael Haverkamp

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in their own sight.” (Judges 21:25) This verse, which concludes the Book of Judges, is a fitting summary for the book as a whole. The Israelites continually rebel against God, only for a prophet to arise

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Receiving Communion

December 14, 2021 / Michael Haverkamp

Receiving Communion has been much in the news lately. This post will cover what the Church teaches about when the faithful should receive Communion, as well as the Scriptural basis for this teaching. In all honesty, I went to Catholic school for twelve years, and I don’t remember being taught

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The Chosen

November 30, 2021 / Michael Haverkamp

The most watched crowd-funded show in internet history is about the life of Jesus. That’s pretty cool. Even better news is that the show is compelling and well-made. The show is called The Chosen. Show creator Dallas Jenkins and his team are planning seven seasons in all. Seasons One and

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Our Lady of Lourdes

November 18, 2021 / Michael Haverkamp

The three most famous Marian apparitions are at Guadalupe, Lourdes and Fatima. These three are famous in large measure due to the miracles associated with them. The miracle of Guadalupe is the most enduring – the tilma with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has survived, inexplicably, for nearly

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Graces

November 3, 2021 / Michael Haverkamp

The Virgin Mary appeared to Sister Catherine Laboure twice in the year 1830 in Paris. During the second apparition (November 27), Mary showed Catherine the design for what would be called the Miraculous Medal. Mary promised that all who wore the medal would receive great graces. The front of the

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The Science of Near-Death Experiences

October 19, 2021 / Michael Haverkamp

The science of near-death experiences is real. In the past fifteen years, there have been four peer-reviewed studies of near-death experiences published in scientific journals, including The Lancet, the leading medical journal in Great Britain. Collectively these four studies examine 3,500 near-death experiences. A near-death experience can occur when a

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