WHAT’S ESSENTIAL IN THE CREED
Throughout the centuries, Christian theologians have elaborated profound studies concerning the Trinity. However many of today’s Christians don’t grasp what they have when they see these wonderful doctrines with their lives.
It seems that today we need to speak about God with humble and simple words, ones that touch our poor, confused and discouraged hearts, ones that comfort our weak faith. Maybe we need to recover what’s essential in our creed in order to learn to live it with new joy.
«I believe in God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth».
We aren’t alone in the face of our problems and conflicts. We don’t go about forgetful of God as our dear “Father”. That’s how Jesus called God and that’s how we call God. The Father is the origin and the goal of our lives. The Father created all of us only by love, and awaits all of us with a Father’s heart at the end of our journey through this world.
The Father’s name is forgotten and denied by many today. Our children go about far from the Father, and we believers don’t know how to pass on our faith to them, but God keeps looking at us all with love. Though we live full of doubts, we mustn’t lose faith in a God who is Creator and Father, since this would mean that we’ve lost our greatest hope.
«I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God».
He is the great gift that God has given to the world. He has told us about the Father. For us, Jesus never will be just one more human being. Looking at him, we see the Father: in his gestures we grasp God’s kindness and understanding. In him we can feel God as someone human, close to us, friend.
This Jesus, the Beloved Son of God, has encouraged us to build a more fraternal and happy life for all. This is what the Father most wants. He has even shown us the way to follow: «Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate». If we forget Jesus, what will fill that emptiness? Who could offer us this light and hope?
«I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life».
This mystery of God isn’t something far away. It’s present in the depths of each one of us. We can grasp how the Spirit breathes into our lives, as the Love that brings us toward those who suffer. This Spirit is what’s best deep within us.
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
