Living Out Faith

    Today I am reminded of the simple words of St. Francis of Assisi. This man spoke so well to the way that we are truly called to live and he explains it in a simple sentence. "Preach the Gospel always, when necessary use words." There is one huge thing to be taken out of this line and that is to live the way Jesus taught us to live and allow your actions speak for your words. It is easy enough for a person to say something, but it is more impressive to see someone actually live out what they believe. To simply say you are a Catholic is one thing, but to truly live out the faith is another, that is the true definition of being a Catholic. Even Jesus in today's Gospel tells us that we need to speak in our actions, why do you think the Jewish elders wanted Him to be dead for blasphemy? Yes Jesus spoke against them, but it was more of the actions He performed that changed the minds of the believers.

    Think about it this way. In Jesus time, anyone could have gone around and said they were the Son of God. But why was Jesus so well received and yet so well hated at the same time? Yes He was a good speaker, but it was because He actually lived what He was preaching. Jesus performed miracles, He ate meals with tax collectors and prostitutes and other sinners. Jesus flipped table in the Temple in order to cleans it! Jesus physically showed His love to everyone as He was being nailed to the cross on Good Friday. Jesus gives us the example of how we are to live our faith and He tells us in Scripture today that our actions are what show people that we truly are faithful followers of Christ.

"If I do not perform my Father's works, do not believe me, but if I perform them, even if you

do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father

is in me and I am in the Father."

    I have said it before that just because you say that you are Catholic, that does not mean you are actually Catholic. Your actions speak for your words. Do you go to Mass? Do you ask for forgiveness? Do you truly know Jesus is in the Eucharist? Do you go out of your way to help those in need? Do you pray daily? Do you understand and follow all of the teachings of the Catholic Church? Remember to be Catholic it is more than just fulfilling the obligation of Mass every week and Confession during Lent/Easter. Being Catholic is a lifestyle in which the laws given to us by Jesus Christ must be followed. Jesus followed the same rules and if you simply do not like a rule or a teaching, well then your action of not following that practice is speaking more volumes than you can ever know.

    Jesus calls us to be followers and to be believers, but He also calls us to live out the faith we have been taught so that we can be like the Apostles and go out and show others that this life is truly joyful and filled with God. So today, as we enter into the final Friday of Lent, let us take a look at our own actions and see if we truly are living our faith and if not, let us find a way to reform our own personal lives to be more like Christ. Remember that Jesus told us He loved us, but we did not know how much until the time came for Him to be on that cross. How much do you love Christ?