By Zoe Cannon
Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
“ … but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Jesus encouraged the Apostles to go out and confirm his life, death and Resurrection. He was speaking of a future event when the power of the Holy Spirit would come to give them everything they needed to spread truth to the power of God.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke details the events and responsibilities of the disciples and newly baptized Christians. Even though the Apostles had firsthand experience following Jesus, the idea of the Holy Spirit guiding them seemed overwhelming. So, how do we convince our loved ones, as well as strangers, that we are called to be witnesses of truth? First, we must know Truth and the power of the Holy Spirit!
How well do the people you love really know you? Are you living in a way that easily provides an answer to this question? I often think about the people who have greatly influenced my life. Reflect on the unconditional love you receive, and those who remind you how to live by their example. Make sure they know of your gratitude and remember to pray for those who are no longer here to thank in person.
I created a lesson on Christian leadership for our home school religion class. I emphasized the importance of our personal witness to those around us — family, friends and strangers — young and old. The exercise was specifically designed to focus on how and why God created us. The students wrote a personal assessment of their potential. They were asked to explain their motivation for planning specific goals, and their expectations for achieving them. We answered questions about character traits and determined a leadership style that best fit their personalities. The final assignment was to name three people they admire, what characteristics they liked about them and if they shared any of those same qualities. The people they chose were not just honorable people but saintly examples. It was interesting to read their choices: family members, worldly figures past and present, and yes, Jesus was on the list.
They were honest and very astute about their own character traits. But their understanding of the responsibility to serve God as a witness, and the awareness of his mercy if we fail and need to start over was incredible. It was refreshing to hear their comments to one another about the results of their character assessments. They were very realistic, a little humorous and non-judgmental.
We studied leadership styles: promoting, supporting, controlling or analyzing, and how each play a role in creating a balanced society. Most importantly, we reviewed the gifts the Holy Spirit provides for us to make the world a better place.
During the 50 days of the Easter Season, reflect on your relationship with Jesus. Spend time giving thanks for the sacrifices made to offer this gift of faith. Be intentional in seeking truth in Church teaching. Jesus needs your witness! Amen!