Students have to master the basics in school before going to university. It is a long journey through elementary, middle and high school, taking at least twelve years before people can finally study what they are really interested in. Some students become discouraged, so drop out before they can even begin to study for their chosen profession. Some students become content with their high school diploma, while others need encouragement from experienced mentors to continue on their educational journey.
Growing in Faith
We must travel a similar road as we grow in our faith. There are those who fall away completely in the first years of their journey. Perhaps they just need to be encouraged to carry on. Those that do fall may not have received basic instruction or catechesis. However, just because we all are not called to be police officers, doctors, lawyers, priests, nuns, theologians, or an apologist, we are all called to be mature, informed followers of Christ. So, all of us have the duty to ensure that our fellow brothers and sisters do not fall early in their spiritual walk.
When Christians give up or doubt God and stop believing, they are really doubting themselves. God is good and God is Love, so God doesn’t create evil but evil can trip us up if we are ignorant of how to stand strong in Christ. Young Christians don’t always understand His ways or that what they want they often try to get through sinful methods. Sinful methods always seem an easier path than a Godly path. Think about going to school. Have you ever thought to yourself, “Okay, I’ll change schools or degree plans because my first plan is too hard?” This sort of thinking implies that you want something easier. Or maybe you think about giving up completely because the core classes are too hard and you need them to help you comprehend the classes you really want which are more advanced. Just know that as we face the seemingly impossible challenge of going through spiritual formation, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27).
Understand the Basics
Even though we can debate which classes to take or which degree plan best suits my needs, we still need to understand the basics. The same can be seen with the several other denominations of Christianity. We can say this one is right or that one is right, but without understanding where and how Christianity truly came about, it would be like robbing your education and picking only the easy classes.
We must understand the roots of the Church and that they were passed down through the Apostles to the early Church Fathers. Even though the reformation, Christians still at least agree that God exists. Like St. Augustine said, “our hearts are restless until they can find rest in you [Lord].” We cannot be judgmental towards others who choose another path, though we should do our best to educate the best we can. Jesus says in Mark 9:40-41, “Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.” From this we can see by listening to St Augustine once more as he stated: “Love [God first] and do what you will [after]”. This what I believe is geared from 1 John 4:12-13 “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God Lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this, we know that we abide in him and he in us because he has given us of his Spirit.” So, by implying what St Augustine could be stating is that you love God with all your heart, then if you love God truly you further actions will not do you harm. For if you love God you will not break his commands.
Love and Serve One Another
With this, we must always try to be merciful and love one another. We can debate this or that all day long, but regardless of how heated the argument, we must still love the one we are arguing with. God call us to be great in this call to love, not mediocre.
By understanding our roots and our faith in the Catholic tradition, just as St. Paul states in 2 Thessalonians 2: 15 “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter”. Paul is referring to written and oral traditions. Paul’s admonishment means Catholics must gently educate those who don’t understand the importance of our traditions which are the foundation of the Church.
We are all called to go and love and serve one another as we are sent out from the end of Mass by the priest. Since Jesus is the only way, truth, and life, we must humble ourselves when we meet those who are outside the Church but we also cannot fail to educate the ignorant, counseling the doubtful. Teaching is part of the Spiritual Works of mercy. Remember to remind people what Jesus said,
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
The spiritual journey Christ calls us finish to is long. We all are tempted give up too easily but with the encouragement of our fellow believers, we can to push through to achieve your true end, the purpose we were made for. We are all simply children of God and students of life.
