God expresses Himself to us in life. This principle is consistently observed in Sacred Scripture and beautifully expressed in our celebration of Mass, as well. In them, Jesus is the center, light, life and meaning of everything; in other words, He is the cornerstone of the Divine Revelation and our Divine Liturgy. We love Jesus and, through Jesus, “we have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us (1 John 4:16).”
All of us Catholics know this. We celebrate this knowledge and are inspired by this belief. The whole Church tradition and the lives of the saints attest to this. However, somehow, the story of this great miracle that life is, is becoming “less” prominent for many, and a culture of death is forcing its way in by making us believe that we have been abandoned.
Some examples of this culture of death are expressed in the way some Christians and Catholics are living their lives: avoiding sacramental marriage, refusing to baptize children, skipping the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Sunday Mass, even to the point of refusing to celebrate funeral Masses for their beloved ones. These decisions may sound little, but it really is scandalous. We are closing ourselves out to a necessary grace that feeds our hunger for life. We are starving ourselves!
Could the very essence of life be diminished? The resounding answer to this question is a resolute “no.” Jesus is life itself – the Way, the Truth, and the Life for all of us. Therefore, we must resolutely acknowledge His true presence in our lives, in the Holy Eucharist, and in the transformative power of Baptism. Doubting Jesus is equivalent to doubting life itself; it’s an inconceivable notion we cannot afford to entertain.
According to the teachings of Vatican II, Christ is ever-present within His Church. His profound presence is palpable, especially during the sacred sacrifice of the Mass. In the sacraments, it’s not just a person baptizing but truly Christ Himself performing the act. Moreover, His voice resonates through His word in the Holy Scriptures read within the Church (see Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 7). Therefore, the constant presence of Jesus remains undeniable. We are not abandoned; instead, we are a journeying Church, reliant on Christ’s body and blood for our sustenance.
Of course, this notion is tightly woven with a life of ongoing testimony. It underscores the connection between comprehension, belief, and action. In other words, understanding is born from belief, and belief is evidenced through actions that align with our pursuit of understanding.
In essence, as we actively engage in the mystery represented by Christ in the sacraments, our comprehension and acknowledgment of His presence deepen, not only within the sacred rites but also in our personal lives, our communities, and our Church as a whole. Belief is a conscious decision, a choice of the will, and it’s bestowed upon us as a divine gift through the Spirit of God when we willingly align ourselves with His sacred will.
Entering a new Advent, a new chronological and liturgical year, the Church echoes the timeless truth: God is always seeking us, tirelessly nurturing our hope. It’s a profound moment, not just for Catholics but for all who seek to believe and fortify their faith. Didymus the Blind of Alexandria, a blind ascetic theologian from the fourth century states:
“The Spirit frees us from sin and death, and changes us from the earthly men we were, men of dust and ashes, into spiritual men, sharers in the divine glory, sons and heirs of God the Father who bear a likeness to the Son and are his co-heirs and brothers, destined to reign with him and to share his glory.”
Let that Spirit guide us!
Father Gustavo Rodriguez Perez serves as diocesan coordinator for Hispanic Lay Formation and parochial vicar in Visitation Parish, New Brunswick.