By ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The Book of Acts, written by Luke the Evangelist, is a valuable history of the early Christian church. It begins with the Ascension of Christ into Heaven, as Jesus left the Holy Spirit to guide His disciples and expand the Church.
Antioch of Syria was one of the largest cities in the first-century Roman world. It was a thriving Jewish community of 100,000-300,000 people, with a mixture of Jews and Gentiles. It became the place where believers were first called Christians. The Apostolic Age was hostile to Christianity. The stoning of Stephen in Antioch was a turning point in salvation history. This martyrdom haunted St. Paul and began his conversion to Christianity.
We are living in aggressive times of change; a cultural tipping point where natural law is being redefined in life, marriage and biology. Hearts are heavy because these issues devalue all that is sacred. There is great need for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit! How can we live in this culture and witness to Christ? I read a book titled ”From Christendom to Apostolic Mission,” written by Monsignor James Patrick Shea, president of the University of Mary. The book is a perfect read for those discouraged by the current radical landscape. Christians are being more excluded from society and challenged to compromise their beliefs.
We must be grounded in Christ! We need a deeper conversion with honest conversations about morality and sin. The Catholic Church is a sacred story of grace and sacraments, especially in the Eucharist. The outpouring of grace we receive makes all things possible!
Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI said the Catholic Church is threatened by a “world-wide dictatorship of seemingly humanist ideologies. Modern society is in the process of formulating an anti-Christian creed, and resisting this creed is punished by social excommunication.” This crisis of faith has led to a crisis of Christian existence. We no longer live in Christendom; we are living in the suffering of an Apostolic Mission. Prayer is essential, and so is community. We need one another!
I recently attended a Mass of Christian Burial for a high school classmate. We were friends in school, but lost touch when she got married and moved away. Seven years ago, our friendship rekindled when I relocated near Indianapolis. It was our faith through an adult catechesis class at the parish that brought us together after 40 years.
We immediately picked up with stories about raising our children and caring for our elderly parents. I didn’t know about her earlier battle and recovery from breast cancer. When the cancer returned two years ago, I was grateful to comfort her with prayer and faith. The young priest who delivered the homily spoke of the inspiration he witnessed in Diane’s strength and peace in dying. Faith provides purpose and meaning, and affirmation is how Christian community grows in love.
These past few years, through circumstances beyond our control, we have lost much of our communal center. We must hold one another accountable and take responsibility for our family, our community and ourselves –so we can return to a proper path of living.
The ultimate meaning and practical application of faith provide us with grace to be courageous, to speak truth, to love unconditionally and to trust in God. I observed this in my friend, especially when pain and suffering made it difficult. The church was full of people who were touched by Diane’s life. She peacefully embraced the gift of eternal life! Be a witness to Christ until the ends of the earth. Amen!