Catholicism Through My Eyes: The End

Happy Easter. Since Lent is over...this will be my last dedicated Sunday blog to Catholicism. No....this does not mean I will not be talking about my faith nor does it mean I will not be answering any questions on the subject to the best of my ability if asked. It simply means that this Sunday blog became a rather unexpected Lenten gift to myself. It gave me as much to think about as I hope it gave all of you. I know that I barely scratched the surface of my faith, but perhaps from time to time I will do more on the subject. Truthfully....these Sunday blogs have been the most difficult of all my blogs. I have had to put much thought and yes....even prayer into them to say what I felt needed saying and also....to say what I hoped would please God and be true to my faith. I hope I have done my subjects justice and that when all was said and done....that you learned a little about Catholicism and that I was able to squash a misconception or two. I still welcome questions and comments on the subject and will be happy to revisit or conquer new territory in the future if I see a need.

I would like to end this series speaking about miracles. Miracles are something that Christians and Jews alike.....believe in. The Bible, both Old and New Testaments are filled with miracles from the Wedding at Canaan to the Resurrection. Miracles are ultimately God's gift to us to remind us that He is always there and that there is always hope. More than once I have felt great sorrow for those who have no faith in God. How can you possibly see a miracle or understand a miracle if you have no faith in a higher power. Those who practice beliefs where man, animal or inanimate objects are their higher power must see the fallibility in their thinking for none of these has the power to completely rid the body of an inoperable cancer that even medical science could not accomplish or to heal an injury that even the most skilled surgeon cannot fix. As for those who believe in nothing.....just how do you explain that which is unexplainable?

As a Catholic....I was taught to believe in miracles from birth I think. It wasn't something that was just lectured to me and I believed because I was "told" to. I have seen miracles. I once saw my mom and brother crossing an intersection where a car was not paying attention and jumped a curb sailing head on into them. Realizing what was happening....they both froze. Miraculously...the car never touched them but ended up 6 feet on the opposite side of them as if it had gone through them. No one on the street could believe their eyes as there was no way the car ended up where it did without running over them. Yes...God gives us those "big" miracles that are wake up calls to the fact that He has His arms around us and when in need....He is there. However....those once in a great while miracles are not the only ones. Daily miracles happen that perhaps we don't recognize. Everything from the intricacies of the human body to the fading glow of a sunset are miraculous gifts given to us by God.

I remember once coming home and telling my mom that our science teacher told us that God creating the earth in seven days was nothing more than a myth. That the earth was actually started by a huge explosion in space or the big bang. Usually this would have sent my mom into a tail spin. Instead though she said...."Okay....if that is the case, then who created space? Where did it come from and who or what caused the explosion?" It was here that she took the time to explain to me that those who don't believe in God will spend their lives trying to disprove His existence....but some things simply can't be explained away. She taught me that there is room for both science and religion/spirituality in this world for God created both. She also explained that this is where our faith comes in. Those who do not believe in God live in both a very egotistical and a very narrow world with very narrow thinking. In essence they believe that the world revolves around them and when they are gone....there is nothing more. It is simply the end. They can't except anything that they can't physically see and touch, so they believe in nothing but themselves. So who do they turn to when everything is out of their own hands? One of two things usually happens....they either get religion really fast....or they suddenly realize their own inadequacies and become angry because in their narrow vision....all is lost. There is no hope. In Christianity...we know there is always hope, miracles happen and that this world is only a prelude to the next. If you think about it.....the ability to have faith itself is a miracle, for it truly is being able to believe in that which we cannot always see or prove.

As miracles go....today we celebrate the greatest miracle of all time. Today we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. God the Father gave His only Son for our sins. He allowed for Him to die on the cross for the salvation of all of us. I can only imagine the pain God felt as He watched those He was trying to save scoff at, abuse and ultimately kill His only son. My heart breaks for Mary His mother and for all those whole loved Him and had to watch Him die such a horrific death. He was truly an innocent, sinless man who was put to death out of fear, prejudice and hate. The loss felt that day must have been insurmountable. You know there were many asking God..."Why?" and begging for a miracle. On that Sunday morning.....a miracle was given....for on checking on Our Lord's body....the stone was removed from His tomb and His body was no longer there. He had risen and in the miracle of all miracles.....He was alive. 

At Mass this morning Father made a statement while totally true....I had not really thought of before. Each time we go to Mass....we celebrate Easter. We celebrate the life, death and resurrection of our Lord. Each Sunday we celebrate the greatest miracle of all time. It was a pretty profound way of thinking if you ask me.

So yes....I am a Catholic and I believe in the Resurrection. I believe in miracles and I believe in my faith and in my church. Being a Catholic is sometimes very difficult as society and church often collide and it takes a great deal of prayer and yes faith....to keep on track. I love my church though and I love knowing we were started by Jesus Himself and that our faith has a rich history. Not a perfect one mind you....but one filled with both human frailty and human strength. I love that sinners can become saints and that God works many miracles through these special souls who often gave up everything for Him. I guess what it all boils down to is being a Catholic is a huge part of who I am. I don't even think I knew how much until I started writing this Sunday blog on Catholicism. I am grateful for the readers who took time to read and as I said....I hope I might have opened both minds and eyes for some. Well I guess that is all I have to say today. Go out and enjoy your day, your family and the miraculous world God has given us. May each and everyone of you have a wonderful and Blessed Easter Sunday.