Scriptures: Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31
We hear in the Gospel today, the well known story of Thomas. The story that ends with Jesus saying to Thomas, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
For centuries people have come to believe in Jesus, the Savior of the World, not because they have seen the Lord. Rather they, as well as you and I, have come to believe in the Lord because of others.
Others who have continued to bring Christ’s message to the world, to the people they interact with daily not by sharing facts or engaging in a debate; but people who have come to know the Lord, people who have come to believe in the Lord because of the ACTIONS of People of Faith, people like you and me.
Each of us, by our Baptisms, have been sent by Jesus to bring His Gifts of peace and forgiveness and unconditional love, and so much more, by the lives we live daily.
Why do so many people become Catholic every year?
Why do we celebrate Sacrament for our children?
Because, People of Faith, Parents of Faith want to share the priceless Gift of Faith with others, with their children. Not just by going through the motions of the Sacrament, but by living the Sacraments and living the Faith more and more each day.
We all need role models in our lives. Good role models who will teach us not only about the things of the world, but also teach us about the things of God.
The thing is, being a role model is not something we turn on and turn off. I’ll be a role model now, but not later… I’ll be a role model when it comes to teaching my child about being a basketball player, but not a role model when it comes to living and practicing ones Faith.
There cannot be a disconnect here. There needs to always be a connection between how we live our everyday lives and who we live our lives of faith every day.
Like the early Christian Community that grew in understanding and living what it meant to be Disciples, to be a Christian. May we continue to grow in understanding and living what it means to be a Disciple, a Christian, a Catholic…
Time to stop talking about Faith… Let’s go and really live it!