Strengthening
Faith

Central Idea: Humble prophets bring glad tidings to the humble poor
Doctrine: Perseverance in faith
Practical application: Shipbuilding our faith

Being full-menu Catholics. Rather than being “cafeteria Catholics,” picking and choosing what doctrines of faith or morals we will accept and reject, we embrace all the doctrines of faith and morals that the Church teaches. This requires a serious effort to study the faith, particularly the areas we find more challenging.

Homiletic Directory

• CCC 2581-2584: prophets and conversion of heart
• CCC 436: Christ as prophet
• CCC 162: perseverance in faith
• CCC 268, 273, 1508: power is made perfect in weakness

The paragraphs were chosen either because they cite or allude to the specific readings, or because they treat topics found in the readings.

IF FR. MIKE “TALKS TOO FAST,” ADJUST PLAYBACK SPEED TO 0.75. AFTER CLICKING ON GEAR ICON ON BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE VIDEO

KEY POINTS:

• The Catholic community believes that Jesus of Nazareth’s flesh reveals God’s divine nature, making Jesus the medium through which God connects with our world.
• The human nature of Jesus becomes a “sacrament,” delivering the unseen divine through the seen human form.
• Catholics believe that God uses material elements of creation to communicate spiritual realities, and in Jesus, the unseen becomes visible.
• The incarnation of the Son of God in Jesus’ flesh is so significant that the human Jesus is deserving of adoration as equal to God.
• The Catholic doctrine maintains that all created things are signs of God’s glory, and creation becomes a means to access the Creator.
• Some Christians reject this concept, asserting that only Jesus’ humanity is an appropriate vehicle for God’s self-revelation. They view sacraments as mere reflections of God’s work, not actual channels of God’s grace.
• The Catholic doctrine of transformation by grace asserts that nature is inherently holy, and redeemed humans can effectively transmit God’s love to others.
• The Church serves as the “sacrament of Christ,” with sacraments acting as genuine signs and conduits of God’s redeeming grace.

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SOURCE: Portland Diocese, Used with Permission