By ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-16).
If you wake up every morning appreciating Christ, the Son of the Living God, then you are truly blessed. Every day is uniquely special; however, unprecedented circumstances make some days more memorable than others.
In 2020, the week of March 14-20 became noteworthy. Spring was beginning; the touring statue of Our Lady of Fatima Pilgrimage arrived in Vincennes at the St. Francis Xavier Minor Basilica. A Eucharistic Procession carried Our Lady through the streets of the city. We celebrated the feast days of St. Patrick and St. Joseph, as well as the birthday of Servant of God Bishop Simon Bruté (born on March 20, 1779), where he is buried in Vincennes in the Crypt of the Cathedral. A Worldwide Pandemic was also beginning to evolve. Sometimes God will put a Goliath in your life for you to find the David within you!
This period of history tested our faith and trust like never before in our lifetime! For the most part, we survived unscathed, all glory to God; but the struggles continue today. We need Jesus, and we must set our minds on things of God, not of man! We need to recognize the difference between our relationship with the Creator and Creation. Throughout the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul makes a clear distinction, “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:24).
There are powerful lessons to learn from the Apostles of the early Church because persecution and threats to our religious freedom are real today! The Spiritual Works of Mercy remind us: instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, comfort the sorrowful, bear patiently those who wrong us, and pray for the living and the dead.
Live and know your faith! It is difficult to share what we do not have. But do not be afraid, for God is with us! In a loving way, share truth; hold no grudges or bitterness; and remember that praying for one another is powerful. I pray we are back in our churches soon, shoulder-to-shoulder, hand-in-hand, with visible smiles, all being fed by grace in the Eucharist—our nourishment for the soul!
Fundamental principles apply in every step of life’s journey. The religious precepts of the Church, the Ten Commandments, and the teachings from Jesus in the Gospels, are some guidelines for Christian living. Rules and obedience provide safekeeping and the opportunity to finish well in all we do.
The spring 2021 seven-year-old baseball league has begun, and I am witnessing the importance of applying fundamental principles. Our son-in-law coaches our grandson’s team. I’ve been coached and watched a lot of coaching in my lifetime. I love watching my young grandson discover new skills by learning the rules of the game. He can be loud and rambunctious at home; but on the field, he transforms into a team player with great concentration!
You can see the intensity on his face — anticipating every move, knowing what to do and following the ball every minute. I complimented him on his understanding of the game. He credited his Dad for being a great coach. We have an amazing Father in heaven who instructs us with spiritual guidance and overlooks our ignorance with His love and mercy. What have you learned this past year during the Pandemic? Please share your victories this Easter Season as you celebrate the Son of the living God! Amen!