for XT3 180 seconds

June 2009

You can’t give what you haven’t got. It is a simple truth that most of us live by. If we don’t have the faith we can’t pass it on.
Jesus asks a simple straightforward question in the gospel, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Only Peter seems to have the courage to speak up; “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” As a result of this Peter is made the foundation upon which the Church will be built. He is made the yardstick by which all can measure their faith. Peter is thus proclaimed our leader in the faith.
Paul was certain he was doing God’s will by persecuting the Christian Church. One day Jesus appeared to him on the road, and in a blinding flash, Saul was thrown to the ground and heard Jesus tell him that in persecuting the Christians, Saul was persecuting Jesus. From that moment his life was changed. By the grace of God, Paul became the fearless preacher of the faith.
Through our baptism and confirmation, we are also called upon to be leaders in the faith and preachers of the faith, called to give it to others. But you can’t give what you haven’t got.
Take that gift and allow it to grow within you. Ask, seek, study and learn, pray, share, nourish and nurture.