FAITHFUL TO THE FOUNDER’S TEACHINGS
Today is the feast of St. Bartholomew. Jesus meets Nathaniel, who is also traditionally believed as St. Bartholomew. Nathaniel doubted Philip’s statement that Jesus was the one Moses and the prophets talked about. It is mainly because Jesus was known to have come from Nazareth, a place known for its notorious people. However, Nathaniel was convinced when Jesus said that He knew him even before Philip was introduced to Him.
The Apostles are our links to Jesus. In faith and religion, it is important that what are being taught and lived are what the founder had entrusted. The true religion attributed to the founder does not only depend on the proven link but more of faithfulness to the teachings of the founder. In the Catholic Church, we are assured of this. The deposits of faith which the Lord Jesus entrusted to the Apostles have been received by the Church. Our claim of being the religion which the Lord Jesus has founded is based on what we have received from the Apostles—what they saw, heard, and experienced.
Surely, those who followed Jesus and suffered martyrdom because of their faith cannot be construed to have been fooled or deceived. The truth is, they saw deeper. This is what we should try to discover, too. For them to die for the faith only testifies to the truth and reality of what Jesus had said and done for us. The Apostles had that responsibility and opportunity. As baptized, we share the same responsibility of propagating the faith through witnessing to the words and deeds of Jesus. We may not be given the grace of martyrdom, but we definitely are given the task to proclaim the Good News. Fr. Benny Tuazon
---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS -----------
Do you have any doubts and/or reservations about the Church’s teachings? Talk to an elder of the Church now and be enlightened.
Help me to deepen my appreciation of my religion and its teachings, Lord, for I know they came from You. Amen.
Today, I pray for: ___________________________
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