Gut Feel
Re-evangelizing myself in the Year of Faith
By Minyong OrdoñezPhilippine Daily Inquirer
Why does it seem so hard to transmit the Catholic faith today?
What are the obstacles that hinder modern men, women and children from hearing and embracing the Gospel?
These are questions that have been asked by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.
Perhaps the hindrances of transmitting the faith today is expressed by Pope Benedict XVI. He observed that those who live according to a clear faith, based on the creed of the church, are viewed as extremists, while relativism, that is, “letting oneself be tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine, is extolled.”
This modern social malaise prompted Pope Benedict XVI to declare October 2012 to November 2013 the Year of Faith.
The target re-evangelization audience is the whole Christian world, more specifically all Catholics. This is the macro audience.
I have, however taken the niched position, with me, personally, as the object of re-evangelization.
A home-bred faith
In being personal, I assume the vital role of the lead possessor of faith, the family man, husband to my wife, father to my children and grandfather to my grandchildren.
As a family man, I will be more involved, more focused with my faith because at stake is the faith of my family, the most important people in my life.
Here’s why the family is at stake:
“The family, the basic sustaining form of Christian culture, is in the process of disintegrating. The family, the basic unit of a living faith community, often no longer performs this service nowadays.”
I was fortunate to be born in a Catholic family. I was baptized as an infant, and instantly, I got a gift from God, the gift of legitimacy as heir of heaven and recipient of sanctifying grace. I love my faith. It’s everything to me.
My first religion teacher was my mother. As a baptized Catholic, I grew up knowing and understanding my faith, and knowing the purpose of my existence on earth: to know, love, and serve God and be united with him in heaven.
My faith is awesome. It’s got mysteries, doctrines and moral truths that I learned to accept, trust and intuit with awe and humility.
By faith man completely submits his intellect and will. With his whole being man gives his assent to God, the revealer. Sacred scripture calls this human response to God, author of revelation, “the obedience of faith.”
Catholic religion, through its Magesterium (teaching authority), possesses superior knowledge, infinite wisdom, inspired sanctity, transcendent theology and eloquent language that defines the immortal afterlife with God. All are contained in the book, “Catechism of the Catholic Church.”
I will revisit the Catechism book page by page, slowly but surely to savor and digest every sentence. The book is always on my work desk, so it can stare me in the face all the time.
Re-evangelization in the Year of Faith means I have to enhance the continuity of acquiring the grace of God, heighten the means of personal sanctification.
Soul mate of the Eucharist
I must incarnate physically and spirituality and make regular union with the Holy Eucharist as my soul mate. I must cleanse my spirit constantly through confession for my comfort and security. I must have friendly and intimate talks with God my father in the spirit of divine filiation. I will put myself under the care of Mary the blessed mother and seek the company of angels and saints when praying and worshipping my loving and merciful God.
I wish heads of families would respond to the spirit of re-evangelization in the Year of Faith and be the lead possessor of doctrinal faith in their homes.
As the basic sustaining social form of Christian culture and as the basic unit of the living faith community, the Year of the Faith will make re-evangelization a reality if more families become obedient to the teachings of Catechism, the frequent reception of the Sacrament of Confession and continuing union with the Holy Eucharist.
My faith, as embodied in the Catholic creed, is gospel inspired, Holy Spirit-guided, and empowered through the Petrine authority (the keys to the kingdom given to St. Peter) and the guidance of the Holy Spirit (the bind and loose authority), plus the guarantee of invincibility (the gates of hell will not prevail against it.)
I will exude extreme confidence about my faith openly, through my profession in the field of mass media.
E-mail the author at hgordonez@ gmail.com.
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Tags: Catholic faith , Gut Feel , Lifestyle , Minyong Ordoñez , Religion , Year of Faith
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