Christ, God with us

Faith and Reason

Through Revelation God goes out to meet men, speaks to them and invites them to be his friends. But communication is not complete when something has been said, but when what is said is heard and accepted by the one to whom it is intended, and when there is a response. Only then have we witnessed an authentic dialogue.

Through Faith, man accepts the divine word and responds to the generous invitation. Just as God gives himself to him without reservation, the believer gives himself to God with all his heart.

Revelation and faith are correlative concepts that claim each other. So what does it mean to believe? What do you mean "I think"?

Jutta Burggraf  Fundamental Theology 

Light in our face and attitudes

That is why I wanted all the lights to be on the candlesticks, so that the clarity would be greater. Let us light the fire, then, and let those who are sitting in the darkness be free from error. And don't tell me that: I have children, I have a wife, I have to take care of the house and I can't do what you tell me. If you had none of that and were lukewarm, all was lost; still when all that surrounds you, if you are fervent, you will practice virtue.

Only one thing is required: a generous disposition. If there is, neither age, nor poverty, nor wealth, business, or anything else can constitute an obstacle to virtue. Already the truth, old and young; married and parents; artisans and soldiers, have fulfilled pale and how much was commanded by the Lord. Young was Daniel; Joseph, slave; Here the he exercised a manual profession; the purple saleswoman was in charge of a workshop; another was a prison guard; another centurion, like Cornelius; another was in-weak, like Timothy; another was a runaway slave, like Onesimus, and yet none of this was an obstacle for any of them, and they all shone for his virtue: men and women, young and old, slave and free, soldier and countryman.

I'm not telling you: don't get married. I do not say to you: leave the city and stay away from citizen business. No. Stay where you are, but practice virtue. To tell the truth, more I would like those who live in the midst of cities to shine for their virtue, that those who they have gone to live in the mountains. For immense good would follow from this, since no one lights a light and puts it under the bushel.

Saint John Chrysostom