The beauty of this Easter season is that the Word became flesh, died for our sins, conquered death, and gives us access to the Father. Each of these remarkable events point to the fact that our faith is real, tangible, even corporeal. Though we all have a personal relationship with God in the very depths of our hearts, as human beings, we are meant to share our hearts with the world. In other words, we should not be keeping our faith in our hearts, but bringing it to the world.
The second reading for today reminds us of this fact when it says, “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” It seems that it is not enough to simply think about or talk about God, but our interior faith must be reflected by deeds.
The second reading seems to be telling us that a private faith is not enough. Our actions should flow from the faith we have that we have been made in the image and likeness of God. Sometimes we can think because faith is so personal, it does not need to be shared. I know I have had the mindset at times that as long as I am in good relationship with God I am doing just fine. But the Gospel implores us to share. Jesus commands the disciples to go to the ends of the earth to preach the Gospel.
We might take the approach that we can be an example and hope that people will see the way we live and make the connection to our Christian faith, but at some point we are called to act in love. Jesus wants us to talk about him, to serve, to forgive, to feed the poor. After all, he died not only so we could personally believe, but so that all men could be saved and come to knowledge of the truth.
This Easter season is a perfect time to reflect on the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Maybe hang a list of them somewhere so they will be a constant reminder to act. Faith is the supernatural virtue where we come to believe, but this belief is so profound and tangible that it can’t help but be shared. Let’s take a word from the end of every Mass, go in peace to love and SERVE the Lord.
From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!
La belleza de esta temporada de Pascua es que el Verbo se hizo carne, murió por nuestros pecados, venció la muerte y nos da acceso al Padre. Cada uno de estos acontecimientos notables señala el hecho de que nuestra fe es real, tangible e incluso corpórea. Aunque todos tenemos una relación personal con Dios en lo más profundo de nuestro corazón, como seres humanos, debemos compartir nuestro corazón con el mundo. En otras palabras, no deberíamos mantener la fe dentro del corazón nada más, sino llevarla al mundo.
La segunda lectura de hoy nos recuerda de este hecho cuando dice: “Hijos míos: No amemos solamente de palabra, amemos de verdad y con las obras.” Parece que no basta simplemente pensar en Dios y hablar de Él, sino que la fe interior debe reflejarse en los hechos.
La segunda lectura parece decirnos que una fe privada no es suficiente. Las acciones deben surgir de la fe que tenemos de que hemos sido hechos a imagen y semejanza de Dios. A veces podemos pensar que la fe es tan personal que no necesita ser compartida. Sé que a veces he tenido la mentalidad de que mientras tenga una buena relación con Dios, me irá bien. Pero el Evangelio nos implora que compartamos. Jesús ordena a los discípulos que vayan hasta los confines de la tierra a predicar el Evangelio.
Podríamos adoptar el enfoque de que podemos ser un ejemplo y esperar que la gente vea la forma en que vivimos y establezcamos una conexión con nuestra fe cristiana, pero en algún momento somos llamados a actuar con amor. Jesús quiere que hablemos de él, que sirvamos, que perdonemos, que alimentemos a los pobres. Después de todo, él murió no sólo para que pudiéramos creer personalmente, sino para que todos los hombres pudieran salvarse y llegar al conocimiento de la verdad.
Este tiempo pascual es un momento perfecto para reflexionar sobre las obras de misericordia espirituales y corporales. Tal vez puedes colgar una lista de ellos en algún lugar para que sean un recordatorio constante de que debes actuar. La fe es la virtud sobrenatural en la que llegamos a creer, pero esta creencia es tan profunda y tangible que no podemos evitar compartirla. Tomando parte de la despedida en cada Misa, vayamos en paz a amar para SERVIR al Señor.
De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesano, ¡Dios los bendiga!
Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”
Feature Image Credit: Bruno van der Kraan, unsplash.com/photos/sun-rays-inside-cave-v2HgNzRDfII
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