Lost in the extraordinary events of Pope Benedict emeritus’
retirement and election of Pope Francis is that we are still in the Year of
Faith. This year was inaugurated
by Benedict’s letter Porta Fidei—the door
of faith—which was quoted in our first reading.
The
center of our faith is the Paschal Mystery—that dying equals rising. Jesus fulfilled his own parable that, “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth
and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Jesus died so that we might have life.
Another
way to think about this is through a technical term—exitus, reditus. Use that at a cocktail party! The idea is that things come from God
and return from God. For instance,
at Mass we take bread and wine—gifts from God—and offer them back to God as
Jesus’ body and blood. Additionally,
Jesus, coming from God, returns to God after his death and resurrection.
In
this Year of Faith we must remember what our faith is all about. We must take the gifts of our lives and
give them back to God. Tap into
the graces of the Paschal Mystery and live these out in your own life to offer
all that you have back to the Person who gave it to you.
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