Faith

We are wrapping up school here at home, and then taking Holy Thursday and Good Friday off, to immerse ourselves in church services and ready ourselves for the glorious day of Easter.

During this season of Lent, I have taken more devotional time to myself –getting up even earlier to read, meditate and pray.  My Lenten sacrifices this year have been challenging, and because I don’t feel we need to blurt them out there, let’s just say, God has been working on me! 

Today, as I read and grade a religion paper written by my 9th grade son, his words on “Faith”, really come to rest on my heart and appeal to my logical mind.

“….. Faith must be universal, it must believe in the teachings fully without doubts, and not be confined to specific teachings…” 

“…It must be conquering and unconquerable, meaning it should be strongest so it won’t be forgotten and lost to worldly things….”  (and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, Matt 16:18)

“…forbidden books, or other forms of entertainment such as movies, television, video games and more, are to be avoided if it teaches against the church, or may lead one towards sin..” (avoiding the near occasion of sin)

These are a small part of my son’s essay, and I am well pleased that these are teachings presented to him in his studies that he must discuss and write about, and make his own. 

Faith is a gift.  It is akin to firm “belief”, Infused in us through Holy Baptism through the power of the Holy Spirit when baptism washes away original sin and opens up the channels for God’s graces to flow within the soul and mark one as His own.  Later Confirmation completes and seals baptism by full acknowledgment, consent, acceptance and a profession of faith by the recipient.  We are saved through Baptism, we are strengthened as soldiers of Christ through Confirmation, ready to defend our Faith.

Our profession of Faith:

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial
of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.