Lesson III Recap: Four Pillars of Faith

There is a lot of material to cover in these lessons, which can be a bit overwhelming. If you find yourself becoming dismayed, never fear. Adult faith formation is a lifelong process that requires continual revisiting of topics and doctrines. Here's an analogy: Learning is like throwing gobs of paint (teachings, doctrines, etc.) on a blank wall (our mind)...much of the paint globs fall to the ground, but still some paint sticks to the wall. The more paint to toss on the wall, the more will stick. For example, in the evening class, you students are submerged in the idea of Trinitarian self-donation--the Persons of the Trinity give of themselves in complete donation to each other, which colors and defines how God creates, sustains, and covenants with us. It describes the nature of discipleship and lengths we must go in love for each other and for our neighbor. The Christian life is participation in Trinitarian life.

Here's the breakdown of Lesson III:

Review: The Catholic Church's authority does NOT come from the Bible. In fact, anyone who places the Catholic Church in opposition to the Scripture create a false comparison. The existence of the Church precedes the existence of sacred scripture. This does NOT deny the infallible and inspired nature of scripture, but the source, power and inspiration of scripture flows from the authority of Christ and the Trinity. Jesus calls, confirms, installs, gives prophetic authority, sacramental authority, etc. to the apostles 35 years before the New Testament was written. The Church's authority, flowing from the authority of Christ, created the Scriptures, where holy men, mostly the apostles, wrote the letters which were eventually put into a Canon by 413 A.D. This does not mean the scriptures are subservient or inferior to the Church...the Bible is the Catholic Church's book.

USCCA Chapter Six:

This chapter sets the stage for the good news of the Gospel of Jesus. God creates all things good, in harmony, and with original justice and holiness. The fall, the sin of Adam and Eve, is an act that ruptures creation's trinitarian harmony, injecting selfishness, suffering, pain and death into the world. Original sin, is not an act that we commit, but a state in which all humankind are now born. This enmity is removed at baptism.

USCCA Chapter Seven:

Jesus Christ enters into the stream of humanity, which is described in the theological concept of "recapitulation." Jesus, by becoming man, becomes the Head of a new race of human beings where humanity and divinity are united as one. The paschal mystery, described in all four Gospels, is the core event of Christ. The teachings, actions, and miracles of Jesus are wrapped around Christ's passion and death, and as we see in each of the four gospels, uniquely as each of the authors saw Jesus and try to relate His life to specific readers: Matthew to Jewish Christians; Mark to Roman Christians, Luke to a larger Greek readership in the Roman Empire; and John, to the Church at the end of the First Century, who were to face intense persecution and temptations to deny the divinity of Jesus Christ.

USCCA Chapter Eight:

The Royal Road of the Cross is THE event in human history that makes our faith possible. It is both the death of Christ on the cross, AND Christ's resurrection. You must embrace both. To overplay one over the other distorts the meaning of the Cross and our response to Christ. Emphasize the Passion and death of Christ over the Resurrection, you can become despondent and overwhelmed with life's sorrows and sufferings, a joyless figure that sees no hope. Emphasize the resurrection, and your aim in life becomes a matter of imitating the triumph of Christ and sees all the ills, set-backs, and sufferings of life as a beneath your dignity as one who shares in the glory of Christ. This is why the Church emphasizes BOTH. We are to carry our crosses as did Jesus, in the grace and strength that Christ gives; we are citizens of heaven, participating RIGHT NOW in the life of the Trinity in the obscurity of faith. In fact, as our first Pope, St. Peter says, "Do not be surprised, beloved, that a trial by fire is occurring in your midst. It is a test for you, but it should not catch you off guard. Rejoice instead, in the measure you share Christ's sufferings. When his glory is revealed, you will rejoice exultantly. Happy are you when you are insulted for the sake of Christ, for then God's Spirit in its glory has come to rest on you."

Since our world is upside down, the sign of our sharing in the glory of Christ in His resurrection is the matter of suffering we participate in here on earth. Our lives are to embrace BOTH the cross and resurrection of Jesus. How we live this life depends on an integral event and Person...the Sacrament of Confirmation and living our lives filled with the Holy Spirit.

Come next week for Lesson IV having read Chapters 9 through 12. And if you have any questions, let handle them here. The peace of Jesus Christ be with you ALL!!!