Catholic Faith: Why We Believe

In our last lesson, we noted that faith involves the whole person, the mind, the heart and the body that acts. When we say then that we believe in Jesus, we mean that we acknowledge him to be the Lord and Savior and no other in this world (mind). We also mean that we trust in him, because he truly loves us (heart). Finally, we mean that we do our best to keep his words and commandment of love (bodily action). Now, we ask further: Why do we believe?

Let’s say, here are two people, Jose and Carlos. They don’t know each other, for they come from different provinces. Jose is from Benguet and Carlos is from Ilocos Sur. They happen to enrol in the same university in Baguio to take the same course. While filling up the enrolment form, Jose notices at a distance Carlos, looking confused and helpless. He approaches him, introduces himself and offers his assistance. Carlos, being new in the city and not knowing anyone else, brightens up and asks Jose a couple of questions. He is then able to fill up properly the enrolment form.

In the following days, Carlos invites Jose to take merienda with him. As the weeks and months pass by, they become best friends, knowing each other more and sharing their struggles and accomplishments in their studies.

Notice in the story that Jose took the initiative to reach out to Carlos. He took the first step to befriend Carlos. Only then did Carlos notice Jose, accepting his help and reciprocating his friendship.

Why do we believe? In a similar way, we believe because God took the initiative to make himself known to us! God took the first step to reach out to us! Had God not revealed himself to us, we wouldn’t believe in God. We believe, therefore, because God, in the first place, revealed himself to us. In fact, God enabled us to believe in him!

God makes himself known to us in various ways. First of all, God reveals himself to us through the world that he created. All of us, now and then, experience the beauty, grandeur and mystery of creation. Colorful flowers, tall trees, stars at night, the wide sea, sunrise and sunset, the fog, storms and earthquakes, man himself: all these sometimes make us think of God, the Creator. How great God is! How wonderful God is! How mysterious God is!

Second of all, Jews and we Christians have the Bible. We believe that the Bible is the “Word of God.” God reveals himself to us through the Bible. By reading, studying carefully and reflecting on the Bible, we come to know God and his mysterious ways with man. We come to know his plan for us. From the story of creation, the story of the people of Israel and finally to the story of Jesus of Nazareth, we come to know God.

The person of Jesus of Nazareth is particularly important, his life, teachings and deeds, because Jesus Christ is the climax of God’s revelation to us! We believe that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one goes to the Father in heaven except through him!”

Last of all, God reveals himself to us through the Church. Jesus founded the Church, the community of those who believe in him. Jesus is the head, and the Church is like his body. Jesus and the Church then belong together. Through the Church we encounter Jesus whom, we said, is the climax of God’s revelation! The Church, being the body of Jesus, continues the mission of Jesus in our world today and till the end of time.

There are a lot of things we can say more about God’s revelation of himself and his plan of salvation for us. We come to realize how precious is our faith, which is a response to God’s revelation! Reflect more on these points, and I invite you to read the following passages from the Bible:

1. Psalm 104
2. John 14:1-7.
3. Colossians 1:15-23.