THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN
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October 9, 2005 The Good News ...Field Mass Spanish Field Mass My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: May God’s special blessing be upon each of you who have come here today for this celebration. I am very pleased to see people from all over our Archdiocese. But, I am especially happy that so many young people are here. Today, here at Saint Gregory’s University, you have all come in faith and with enthusiasm. Thank you for your presence. As Catholic people, our faith must be a total commitment to the Lord Jesus. Our faith in Him must rest on the firm conviction that Jesus lived, suffered and died for us. It is precisely because of this that he is our Lord, our Redeemer. When we say that we believe in Jesus, that affirmation of faith demands that we follow His teachings and obey His commandments. Faith is not simply a thought or an emotion. It is a commitment to a Person - to Jesus. Therefore, faith must be a way of life. Our daily lives must be in tune with Jesus Who says to us: “I am the Way. I am the Truth. I am the Life.” When Jesus lived “in the flesh” on this earth, He called together men and women who believed in Him, who trusted Him and who loved Him. To them He revealed the manner of life they should observe on this earth. He made it clear to them that this life on earth is a pilgrimage. It is a journey to our true and final home which is unity with Him in Heaven. Jesus formed His faithful followers into the Church. He gave His Apostles a grave responsibility to serve His people. They were to teach officially. They were to correct and guide the people of the Church. They were to gather the people together to celebrate the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. The Apostles were to remind the people to be generous and to assist the poor and the needy. They were always to act in accordance with truth and justice. Jesus promised the Apostles and the early Church that He would be with them always. The promise of Jesus is fulfilled. He remains with us in a very unique and dynamic way in this holy, Catholic Church which He established. He continues to watch over us and guide us by sending His Holy Spirit into our lives. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church preserves and shares the teachings of Jesus. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, who is the successor of Saint Peter, acts in the Name of Jesus and on His authority. As members of the Catholic Church, it is crucially important therefore that we listen and learn. We must understand the authentic teachings of the Church. We must observe the rules and regulations not out of servitude but because of love. Because we love God - Who first loved us - we should want to obey Him and follow Him daily. This is what true faith in Jesus really means. To help each of us become people of faith in Jesus, the Church offers us many aids. Above all, it proclaims the Word of God to us and celebrates the sacraments with and for us. The Word of God is contained in the Bible. The way of faith and life is outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Every young Catholic person, indeed all members of our Church, should regularly consult and read and meditate on the contents of these two books. In order to do that, you must keep a copy of the Bible and the Catechism where you live. The Bible and the Catechism should be considered your prized possessions. If you don’t yet have these books, please get them as soon as possible and begin to use them frequently. Both the Bible and the Catechism will help you respond to God’s love and His call. You will begin to realize that the serious obligation which we have to participate in Mass every Sunday is a beautiful and fulfilling opportunity to live your Catholic faith. It is the principal way to come to know and to love God. This is what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ. It is more than words, more than emotion. It is the daily life that we live in unity with Jesus. This is the challenge of our Catholic faith. This is the call that I extend to you today. Come, join me and be assured that God is truly with us in this celebration of the Eucharist of His Son Jesus. |