There is a story about Jesus, raised from the dead, that is told at the end of Luke’s gospel. In that story, two men, Cleopas and an unnamed disciple, (read you!) are walking away from Jerusalem after Jesus’ crucifixion. While walking down the road, a third man joins their conversation. Cleopas explains how frustrated they are that Jesus’ promises ended on the cross. The third man then explains to them all of scripture, including today’s passage from Isaiah, and how the messiah would die for the people and be raised. At the end of their journey, they went inside an inn and broke bread together. At that moment, Cleopas and the other disciple recognized the Risen Christ. Religion in more than mere data, but instead a journey into the mystery of God, the source of love.
Love perfects faith and leads us into relationship with the source of love. The letter of James says, "You have faith and I have works.
Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.” James 2:18. St. Paul preached the same truth, “if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Cor. 13:2. Faith in Jesus Christ is a theological virtue in that it transcends human virtue and connects us with God. Why is this true?
Jesus asks the most important question every human being must answer. While walking down the road with his disciples, Jesus asked them, “Who do people say that I am?"
Mk. 8:27. The disciples answered that people said that he was the prophet Elijah who had returned to Israel. Another said John the Baptist returned from the dead or maybe another prophet. Today an increasing number of people might say that he was a wise man, a revolutionary or a philosopher. How you personally answer Jesus’ question will determine how you respond to the gospel.
Our Lord doesn’t give you much leeway to answer. In the gospels Jesus said:
“Either you are with me or against me; either you gather with me or you scatter.” Mt. 12:30
“Unless you love me more than father and mother, you are not worthy of me.” Mt. 10:37
To the paralyzed man he says, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Mk. 2:5
The disciples were amazed and afraid of Jesus. Mk. 10:32 He threatened to tear down the Temple in Jerusalem and raise it back up in three days. He called it his Father’s house. Jn. 2:13-25
You cannot explain Christianity 2,000 years later without the power of the Resurrection and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The Lord exercised authority over evil, nature and illness. The only aspect of reality he refused to force, was the human will. He doesn’t force anyone to believe. Jesus does, however, make us choose.
Faith is the door to the spiritual life. Faith brings you to present your children to the Church for baptism in response to Christ’s commandment to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Mt. 28:19. Faith brings you to Mass to respond to Jesus’ command to eat his flesh and drink his blood in remembrance of Him. Lk. 22:19. You respond to Jesus’ offer to receive the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. Acts 8:14-17. When we observe the liturgical year, Advent and Lent, Christmas and Easter and the various feasts, we live in a way as to make life and time sacred. When we live the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, we try to raise a fallen and disappointing world up to God. None of this makes any sense if Jesus was only a ‘wise’ teacher, a ‘holy man’ or a revolutionary against a corrupt world. If he is, however, as we believe, the Son of God, then we are not disappointed in our faith or alone in our work.
Jesus’ question in the gospel was not, “do you have me figured out yet?” but, “Who do you say that I am?” If your response is to believe that he is the Son of God and to trust in him, then you must do something. He said, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it." Mk. 8:35 Jesus is not a proposition or any doctrine or dogma. He is a person, the Lord of my life and yours. The central claim of our Faith is that God became one of us, that he took our nature to himself. Jesus’ identity is the center of the gospel. Believe it or not. Jesus makes us choose!