FAITH BEYOND WORDS

January 23, 2022

Jesus’ religious beliefs grew on the word of God.
Through boyhood and family life, visits to the synagogue and prayer, he heard the word of God.
Gradually he knew what it meant. Now was his time to speak that word, and to begin his ministry.

For Mary and Joseph this was a proud moment. They had given their time and love to Jesus’ upbringing and now it would bear fruit. Today parents worry about the faith of their children. They see a different attitude to religion, prayer, morality and many other aspects of life. They wonder did they do their job well.

Much of the culture today goes against God and religion. Parents cannot fight the culture. But they can hand on the best of the gospel by their own faith and by the way they live their lives, by their love and by speaking the truth as they see it. What is handed on in faith is beyond words.

Teachers and chaplains play a big role in handing on our faith. The Church owes a huge gratitude to teachers, chaplains, priest and lay, who have held that role in very difficult times over the last forty years.

We are all part of the ‘faith ministry’ of Jesus. By our own prayer we can help a new generation find their way to faith. We hand over worries to the Lord. Prayer gives us the encouragement to support a younger generation in their ways of faith – meditation groups, prayer groups, folk and gospel music Masses, work for and among the poor. God loves our younger generation more than we do!

Lord may my own faith grow deeper by my relationship with you.
Help those who search for you, especially the young.
Help us all to find your love in our lives, Amen.

Donal Neary, SJ