Apostasy

I wrote the following sentences and posted these in Facebook: “I believe in God. I believe in the union of man and woman in marriage. If you believe, share to all.” One comment caught my attention:  “I don't believe in god, and I believe any two people of any gender can be united in marriage. Just saying, 'cos this showed up on my timeline.” 

I did not respond to the comment, instead I prayed for the writer that he will return to the faith like the prodigal son.  In most secular countries, being an atheist or agnostic is acceptable; and their unbelief sadly rubs upon their children.

One question asked by people-without-faith is “How can one believe in and depend on an unseen God?”  There are even those who think that Christ is just a product of imagination in the same manner that Stan Lee conceived most of the Marvel heroes.

We cannot blame the present-day unbelievers for even those who encountered Jesus questioned him if he was the Messiah. “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” (Matthew 38-39)

The scribes and Pharisees had witnessed many of the miracles of Christ; still they required more proof.  According to one author:  “Jesus faulted them for one thing: spiritual adultery. The image of adultery was often used in the Scriptures for describing apostasy or infidelity towards God.” Blinded by their position, power, traditions and rituals, they failed to see the living Christ who was greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon.

The Church established by Christ is the living proof of His love for all.  The lives of saints, the sacrifices of martyrs, the works of the religious and the contributions of the faithful, these are signs of God’s presence on earth.

We, as Catholics, as Christians, must continue to show God in our words and in our deeds.  We represent Christ; and if unbelievers refuse to see, woe to them, woe to their souls. (Bro Mel B Libre)