Lumen Fidei Reflection Paper

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Faith is often associated with believing without seeing, which is often said by Jesus in parables and teachings, but in the Bible there are many example where faith was not blind but more an example of trust. For example Abraham trusted that God would not break the covenant made even though he had nothing to solidify that belief. In Pope Francis’ second chapter of Lumen Fidei, he highlights the association between faith and sight allowing us to have a deeper understanding and vision of the Word of God, and after going on my community engagement project I was able to see this interaction in someone else’s life. On Sunday, September 18th, I went to the Fiesta DC Festival on Constitution Avenue with my swim team. Our goal was to help the community …show more content…

Throughout my life I have understood and believed most of the tenets of the Catholic church, but I had a hard time fully entrusting in God and connecting on a spiritual level. When I was thirteen, my mother passed away, and I felt as though my world fell apart. I was unable to comprehend why God would do this to me. It angered me, shaking my trust in God. Thankfully I had an incredible support system made up of my family and friends who supported me, but I still felt like I needed a sign to show me that I was moving forward in the right direction. I never found a concrete sign, I began to understand that everything happens for a reason. God has an undying love for everyone, and he does not give us more than we can handle. Today I have a responsibility and desire to make my mother and family proud, and I have faith that I am on the right path as I pursue a career to help others as a nurse. Because of this, I was truly moved when Maria shared her story because her faith in God was undying; she was unafraid to trust in someone who she had never seen or physically talked to. Even though human knowledge of God is so limited, our capacity to love and have faith in him seems to be unlimited. Maria was able to believe in God without seeing, but when he revealed Himself she grew deeper in her faith. In the Second letter to the Corinthians …show more content…

And whoever sees me sees him who sent me” (Jn 12:44-45). The meaning of “sees” in this quote has two meanings. One meaning could be the literal sight of Jesus, but it also means seeing him for who he truly is and what he represents. In the story of creation, humans were made from the dust of the Earth and the breath of God(Gn 2:7). From that we know that God always dwells within us and that he made us in his image and likeness; therefore, we are all capable of showing others what it means to “see” God. Because he is not a material being it is often hard to place our trust in Him, but if we have faith, like Maria, he will reveal a sign to us. His most important sign was when he gave us Jesus someone who was both human and divine. He showed his humanity and his unwavering faith when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed, “My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me, yet not as I will, but as you will”(Mt 26:39). Jesus understood the importance of his mission to open the gates of heaven, but he also knew the pain and torture he was going to have to undergo to complete that

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