Created by Christopher Carmody: jesusinsalem@yahoo.com and Stephanie Rangel: beverlyyouthministry@gmail.

com

Year Faith
of
2012-2013
There is thus no reason for competition of any kind between reason and faith: each contains the other, and each has its own scope for action.

23 December 2012

The human person yearns for knowledge, especially knowledge of something greater than himself. Even Voltaire once said, If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him. He makes a fair claim that people need to believe in something higher in order to prosper. Last week we talked about coming to know God through our human reason. But where reason ends faith begins. Without faith we cannot begin to know God in His entirety. We would not know of his signs, miracles, plans, or even callings. Faith dictates to us that there are reasons for why things happen in our lives. Faith gives us assurance because we not only know there is a God looking after us, but we feel that he does. We gather a sense that God will never abandon us and He brings the best good out of any situation as long as we trust in Him.

Fides Et Ratio #17

The desire for God is written in the Human Heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. -Catechism par. 27
Challenge
How do we respond to Gods call to know Him? Do we try to over rationalize everything? When we are tried this week let us trust God and act in Faith!

Man is Oriented to God

Since the beginning of time man has sought to worship something greater then he, whether it be one God, various gods, or even a golden calf. This shows that man is a religious being always searching for truth. God created us out of nothing and we are held into existence simply because he wills it to be so. We are created in His image and because of this our hearts are restless until the rest in Him. We are made to live in communion with God. So often we search for happiness and fulfillment in material things like money, power, and other people. We lose ourselves until we find ourselves again in God. The beautiful thing is that there is a God who we didnt have to invent. He loves and cares for us. He seeks us out so that we can find Him. Do you seek out God for fulfillment?