By Zoe Cannon
Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
“We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
God’s love is powerful and eternal! He speaks to us through nature, people, Sacred Scripture and in prayer. Every breath we take is a loving miracle from God.
When you know God and hear his voice, a deep, secure and interior relationship is formed. If things are right on the inside, the outward distractions in life won’t overwhelm you. Keep your eyes on the true Kingdom of God, and the rest will be added in abundance. This seems simple enough, but the world we live in is challenging. Believers realize that God is for us, and nothing can be against us!
Sacred Scripture is a book about God’s love for us! A bible study with faithful people is a blessing, because we learn so much from one another when we are determined to seek truth. I have been facilitating a bible study on a regular basis for many years, and I still have so much to learn. Be intentional about finding truth in the Word of God! News outlets and social media sources are tools of information intended for good, but often become a basis for falsehood and confusion.
There are “Seven Catholic Epistles” in the New Testament introduced between St. Paul’s last writing, the Book of Hebrews, and the final book, the Revelation to St. John. The term Catholic Epistles comes from a Greek word katholikos, meaning “universal.” They are called “catholic” but not because they are specific to the Catholic Church. The letters written by James, Peter, John and Jude were addressed to a universal church, not just one community or individual. Their expressed concern about false teachings continues to have a direct bearing in our lives today. There is nothing new in their messaging — we read about these truths in scripture, we recite them in our baptismal promises and proclaim them during each holy Mass with the Creed.
The Seven Catholic Letters are short reads, and each one ends with an exhortation, a final greeting and benediction.
- St. James’ letter is devoted to ethical catechesis, focusing on wisdom with an urgent appeal to confess sins and to recognize that Jesus, the Messianic Judge, is already at hand. James tells us that persevering in the testing of one’s faith leads to spiritual maturity, and he explains the distinction between faith and works.
- The two letters of St. Peter are pastoral and written as encouragement for a young church perplexed by growing hostility toward Christians. He informs people that suffering in the name of Jesus is not a curse but a blessing. He wants them to live in the image of Christ for the world to see.
- The three letters of St. John identify God as light and love. The letter focuses on authentic fellowship with God. He distinguishes between the children of God and the children of Satan and reminds them that faith conquers the world.
- Finally, the short Letter of St. Jude addresses a Christian community that is threatened by false teachers. He makes an appeal to fight for the true faith against an incoming hoard of deceivers.
We should read these seven letters and write about our faith journey to share with those we love. Do not be anxious or afraid … we love because he loved us first. The greatest love! Amen!