By Zoe Cannon, Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
Peter understood that early believers needed to desire the word of God and focus on a new identity in Christ. He wanted them to grow in faith by understanding salvation. Peter identifies Jesus as the “cornerstone,” the foundation of all that we believe, the “living stone” chosen by God.
We are chosen by God! Our faith builds up a spiritual temple within us. This identity was a new concept for the first Christians. But we have 2,000 years of holy witnesses, so our responsibility to avoid anything that offends God is clearly outlined. He chose us to be a holy and consecrated people.
“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” John 20:23. After his resurrection, Jesus gave the apostles this authority, promising that a Holy Spirit would empower them.
Forgiveness is the central theme in the Bible. The message involves both God’s forgiveness of our sins and the requirement for us to forgive one another. In God’s boundless mercy, he is not merely suggesting we forgive but makes this act essential for our salvation. God knew it would be challenging to let go of pain, heartache and anger toward one another. He assigned the ministry of forgiving sins to the apostles and those designated to succeed them by instituting the priesthood. Do you recognize the value in this offering of grace?
The Church celebrates the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the month of June. Jesus is God’s source of grace and mercy, and those ordained as persona Christi continue the blessing. The birth of the Church at Pentecost and the promise of power from the Holy Spirit were not just a plan for the early Christians but for us today! God’s plan of salvation continues in the faith stories we share….our personal gospel.
We celebrate Father’s Day on June 15….as we should….but don’t forget the true source of our connection to God the Father through the ministry of the priesthood. Even as a child, I could see that priestly fathers were a blessing in my life. Writing this article prompted me to make a list of names with the priests who have influenced my faith journey. I began recalling memories of their presence in my school and parish, the grace given to me and my family in each holy sacrament, their smiles in times of joy, their comfort in sorrow and their daily sacrifices in giving of themselves.
I started writing stories as the floodgate of memories unfolded. The journal is quite lengthy, it is serious, it is humorous, it is emotional, and in reading them, I feel blessed. Every story helps us grow in our faith. Remember the people who call you out of darkness and into the light of Christ. Make your list and thank those who bring the gospel into your life! It’s all good news! Amen!