October, 2012

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.

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

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried,and rose again on the third day  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.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.  I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

“The Church at the Easter Vigil praises the Lord for the even more wonderful work of the redemption of mankind and the cosmos:

“Almighty and eteranl God, you created all things in wonderful beauty and order. Help us now to percieve how still more wonderful is the new creation by which in the fulness of time you redeemed your people through the sacrifice of our Passover, Jesus Christ.”

Through the Commendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I thought we could reflect more deeply on the Creed we devoutly declare every Sunday in our Parish Worship of God in the Holy Mass.

God. The question of God has always been a thought and soul provoking question for us throughout our history. Every human being graples with this question and realizes that the answer to those questions lies in the gift of Faith; a gift already given to us by a God Who desires to exchange gifts with us. Once we realize that this Person truly desires to be with us; and willingly accept this gift, we can begin to understand ourselves and the world around us as creative, living and joyful.

Recently there has been an active and overhwelming push for God to be eradicated from public life. It is almost as if men and women deliberately intend to reject this gift given, in a attempt to despise Someone Who is trying to love us. We only need to review the Old Testament again to see where this approach to God leads us, both as a person and as a community of persons.

If I cannot believe in God. If my arrogance does not permit me to accept or receive graciously a gift, then a person cannot accept themselves, their value as one created and loved. Then a person becomes ignorant of how to do these things for others.

The more we alienate ourselves from God, the more inhuman we become.

November, 2012

The Father Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible…

What does it mean that I believe in a God that is both Father and Almighty?

I think that when I say Father, I mean there is a relationship between myself and God. Now, what that relationship is? I can look at the relationships I have with members of my family, with my own father, and with my friends. How do I relate to others? Are my relationships ‘all about me?’ It seems that it would be difficult to have a shared relationship if that is the case. So, what is my relationship with God? How do I treat Him? What do I do for Him? In others words, how do I love Him? Is my relationship with God worth it for Him or for me?

When I say I believe God my Father is Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, of all things visibe and invisible. WOW. I believe that God can do all things! Can He help me out of this pickle? Yes, He can. Can my Father direct me on a course in life that will make me happy? Yes, He can. God is also Creator which means He had a life before we came along, and He’ll still be living long after we die. God has a life all His own and this life includes   places we cannot see with our eyes or touch with our hands. The invisible world we believe in is a spiritual world in which God dwells with the Angels and the Communion of Saints. So you see, we bleieve in A God that has His Own Will apart from our will, whic He created by the way. He will do things His Way when He answers our prayers!

This part of my faith is hard to realize and appreciate because Gos gave me free will and I enjoy using it. Perhaps too much. Perhaps I am too willed, too stubborn or too proud to see things God’s way. But, if I could lift up my stubborness and ask my Father to bless my efforts to see and understand His Will, that humility might help me give up MY way of doing things and see Divine Providence for what it is: NOT MY WAY.

Let God be God once in a while. It’s good for the soul and the mind!