By ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH
“Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a worker who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Every passage in Scripture provides a guide for living a good and holy life. The message above, from Timothy, is very relevant in our present culture. There seems to be a lot of confusion about moral teaching and truth – with far too much deviation!
I purchased a new book for my library titled, “Handbook of Moral Theology,” by Father Dominic Prummer. The book was first published in 1921; translated from Latin with over 500 pages, this book is regarded as an international classic. This Catholic moral-theology handbook is written with no doctrinal deviation as a reference text for clergy, seminarians and laity. The new edition restores the 1956 English translation. I have no great illusions of reading this book over a weekend, but it will be a great reference for studying topics such as divine, eternal, natural and human law; conscience; sin; commandments; precepts; excommunication; indulgences; moral cooperation with evil; virtues and vices; and right worship – to name a few important subjects.
Wisdom is a gift from God and will lead us to an intimate understanding of His Word. We must be intentional about finding good sources of truth. The information we receive in today’s environment often lacks clarification, and confusion is rampant. There would be fewer useless disputes about faith if we were properly informed about Church teaching. Every soul should be seeking eternal life, but we miss the opportunity if we refuse to listen to God’s plan for this gift.
Another school year has begun, and dedicated teachers and parents are collaborating to create the perfect learning environment for children of all ages. I am grateful for the opportunity to be an adult catechist and religion teacher for homeschooled children. I spend a lot of time reading and preparing, but I learn so much from my students and their questions – young and old alike. We are never through learning about God or developing relationships that will help us get to heaven. You do not need to read a 500-page book to be a faithful Catholic, but finding time to educate yourself about church teaching will be a blessing you can pass on to others.
We each have great intentions when developing good habits, but we often fall short of the goal. Typically, the efforts are focused more on the body with diet and exercise; but our souls need some real attention right now! As a new school year begins, we should take time to educate ourselves about the faith. We cannot share what we do not know! We need a generation of faithful families who are studying and praying together. Our children are growing up with some very challenging societal changes, and they need to be grounded in truth.
Over the years, I have been involved with many different groups that met regularly to plan ways to engage people of all ages with the teachings of the Church. I have learned two important things. One – never be disappointed in the number of people participating because if only one person is enlightened, you’ve done a good thing. Two – churches can plan, and some people will come; but what is taught at home is the real key to building a relationship with God.
We know this is not a perfect world. Not everyone is blessed to share faith in his or her homes, but we all know someone who could use our help. Set a goal for this school year and be a worker who imparts the word of truth to others. Present yourself as acceptable to God, and make a solemn promise to help everyone know the love of Jesus! Amen!