Fr. Leo's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (8/23/2009)

Dear People of Holy Name,

“We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:69)

To believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is the crown of faith. Real faith is more than nodding yes to the theological understanding of the Trinity. Real faith is sharing in the life of Christ as a living being, present to us in the gift of the Holy Spirit. To know the Lord is to live in his Spirit in communion of mind, body and soul.

Looking at a person’s driver’s license we can begin to know about them, but it is only when we meet them in person do we begin to know them. The same is true of the Lord. We can know about the Lord, but to know the Lord we must meet him. So how do we meet the Lord?

One of the primary ways to come to know our Lord Jesus Christ is through reading the scriptures. When we read, study and reflect on the Word of God the stories of truth, justice, mercy, forgiveness and healing stir our hearts. That stirring is the presence of the Holy Spirit, connecting with our own God given desire for truth, justice, mercy, forgiveness and healing. Stirred by the Holy Spirit we work and pray for the Lord’s truth to become our own. Such prayer is an act of great faith.

A second primary way to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ is through the community of his disciples, the church. When we love one another, forgive one another and give of ourselves to one another as an act of faith, the presence of Christ becomes real and tangible. All who place their faith in Christ and give of themselves can be disciples in their own unique way, making Christ present as no one else can.

When we break the bread of our lives together, the Eucharist, another primary way to know the Lord, becomes less an empty ritual and more a celebration of faith in the presence of Christ who lives among us. During Sunday liturgy we pray the scriptures allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts. We declare and celebrate our common faith and the ways we have lived our faith in the past. We also become inspired by the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, to go forth to continue to grow in Christ, making him present to all peoples in our time.

Ours is a living faith. We live our relationship with the Lord in every breath we take and in every thought and action we make. So real is our communion with the Lord that all things are a sharing in his being, all becomes gift from God. With this kind of gratitude we find ourselves living in the fullness of his life as we give witness to the real and true presence of Christ in and among us.

When our faith becomes a way of life, we are on the path of life leading to the fullness of life now and forever. Today we give thanks for the gift of faith that has drawn us here to worship, and ask the Lord to continue to pour out his Holy Spirit upon us that we may continue to grow in his Spirit, sharing in the fullest possible communion with his Son in this life.

We have been blessed. Let us give thanks and give of the love and life we have received to others, fulfilling God’s mission for us in this world. May the Lord be generous in pouring his spirit upon us!

In Christ’s peace, Fr. Leo