The HEART of our FAITH

“God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses.” (Acts 2:32)

 

The resurrection of Jesus was at the heart of Peter’s message on Pentecost, and it became his mission statement for the rest of his life.

Two thousand years later, God still wants the resurrection to be at the heart of our faith. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed on as fundamental by Tradition; established by the documents of the New Testament; and preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with the cross: Christ is risen from the dead!” (638).

Just as the apostles were first-century witnesses to the resurrection, God calls us to be twenty-first-century witnesses to the very same event. He wants us to be bold and steadfast as we testify to the transformation that Jesus’ resurrection has brought about in our own lives. Of course we should try to witness through our good deeds, but he also calls us to speak clearly, excitedly, and joyfully about the basis for our hope and our faith. And what is that basis? Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again!

Take time today to reflect on the concrete ways that the reality of Jesus’ resurrection has changed your life. How has it given you hope? Strength? Comfort? Peace? Try to boil it down into a couple of sentences. Make it into a proclamation of faith that you can announce to yourself and to the Lord every morning when you wake up. Make it the basis for your decisions as you go throughout the day. Ask the Holy Spirit how you can tell people about your faith and joy in the risen Lord.

Commit yourself to sharing the good news with at least one person this week. Then go out and do it!

“Praise to you, Jesus, my risen Savior! ‘You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever’ (Psalm 16:11).”

--that in all things God may be glorified--