By Zoe Cannon
Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
But as it is written: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
The doctrine of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christianity. It is impossible to separate the doctrine of atonement from the life of Jesus. His crucifixion and death on the cross were recompense for the sins of humanity and restoration for our relationship with God.
The Incarnation for us is the great revelation from God. The Incarnation is also the great revelation of man, his strength and his possibilities for good, all intended by God. The merits of our Lord’s Atonement are an extension of grace provided for each baptized soul. The sacraments were instituted for us through the Incarnation of Jesus.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides information about the Incarnation in paragraphs #456 through #483. Since apostolic times, the Christian faith has insisted on the true incarnation of God’s Son. The mystery of the Incarnation led to heresies debated throughout church history, denying not so much Christ’s divinity as his true humanity. “The Incarnation is therefore the mystery of the wonderful union of the divine and human natures in the one person of the Word” (CCC 483).
How do you increase your knowledge of Church teaching and doctrine? We can be grateful for holy Mass and the opportunity to receive the Eucharist, and we can believe in the grace we receive in the sacraments, but if we do not realize the role we play in building up the kingdom of God … we are just going through the motions.
Our Christian faith is challenged every day. We need to be fully engaged in our relationship with God, because saving souls is our mission and heaven is our reward. We unintentionally take things for granted, like each breath we take, the love of family, believing there is always tomorrow to get things done and the mystery of God’s eternal love.
Jesus is calling each one of us. Do you pray for vocations? The call to married life, priesthood, religious life, consecrated single life and the diaconate, are blessed opportunities to serve the Church and faith community. We glorify God in mind, body and spirit when we discern our vocation with prayer. A devoted marriage with family provides an opportunity for a vocation to priesthood or religious life, creating a solid foundation for the future Church. In a world without the gift of priesthood, there would be no sacraments, the Eucharist or grace for the journey.
National Vocation Awareness week is celebrated on Nov. 2-8, 2025. Please make time to pray as a family during this week. Teaching children to pray for their vocation will bring happiness into their lives. Strong, faith-filled families are necessary in the mission of growing a faithful Church. If young people are not considering priesthood and religious life, what will the future Church look like? Time spent discerning your vocation is the best way to comprehend what God has prepared for those who love him. Pray for vocations during the week of Nov. 2-8, God will bless your human heart! Amen!