My dear Parishioners,

Peace! The first article of the Apostle’s Creed is: I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth. There are forty “in brief” statements in The Catechism of the Catholic Church which treat this article of our saving faith. What follows is a reflection on article 421.

The Catechism here cites the ‘Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World’ of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) as relating to the Creed. The Creed is a summary of the ‘faith of Christians’ and of the Sacred Scripture as well. While we have been focusing on the first article of the Creed, faith in God who has created, there are eleven (11) other articles in the Creed not to mention the Sacraments and the Commandments and various aspects of a life of prayer which are also part of the ‘faith of Christians.’ Faith is a supernatural virtue, believing in God and all that God has revealed. (Acts 3:16; 20:21; 24:24; Romans 1:17; 3:3; 4:9-20; 5:1-2; 10:6, 8, 17; 12:6; Jude 1:3)

Part of our Christian faith is that God has created the visible world (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27; 2:3-4). Unlike Gnostic heretics who see material things as bad and evil we believe that everything God has made is good and that God sustains His creation in being in a loving conservatorship. This, even in spite of the Fall and countless sins on our part. God who is Love shows undying love by creating and maintaining us and the world (Acts 17:28). ‘The world’ is used differently throughout Sacred Scripture sometimes positively: God saw that it was good… (Genesis 1:4,10, 12, 18, 21, 25) God so loved the world (John 3:16); sometimes negatively: you are not of the world (John 17:6, 14, 16) the world hates you (John 15:18; 17:14; 1 John 3:13); the works of the world are evil (John 7:7).

That this is a fallen world is part of our faith. If there were no Fall, if there was no sin, if there is not slavery of sin then Christ’s coming among us, His death and resurrection were all in vain. But, it has not been without purpose.

Christ has conquered by His Cross and resurrection sin, death and the Devil who is also called the Evil One. Christ’s saving death and resurrection are made present sacramentally especially through the Sacrifice of the Mass. Our fidelity to Christ and His Cross and resurrection present in the Eucharistic Offering is where we received the power to overcome the reign of sin in our lives and in the world.

Baptism and Penance likewise apply the victory of Christ over the prince of this world (John 16:11) and liberate us from the shackles and wages of sin (Romans 6:23)

Starting next week, as a conclusion to the Year of the Priest (2009-2010) a series will begin on the Priesthood and the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the Catechism of the Catholic Church before resuming our presentations on the rest of the Creed

God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr