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What does it mean to live out our faith? Faith in the Catholic Church is more than just believing in Christ’s death and resurrection; it must be LIVED. Far more than a side-line or secularized activity, we are called by Christ to carry out our faith as our basis of life. Although, the Church has not defined a concrete way for us live out our faith, She has said that those who have accepted God’s message and responded to it of their own free will are called to proclaim the Good News that has been passed down from the apostles.
"All Christ's faithful are called to hand down the faith from generation to generation, by professing the faith, living it in fraternal sharing, and celebrating it in liturgy and prayer," (Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 3).
Faith requires more than simply attending weekly services or religion class.
Of course, both these activities are crucial because they help the believer of the faith to obtain a greater understanding of doctrine of faith. Yet, even if we were able to learn every detail and Tradition of the Church, the benefits will not fully emerge unless we practice our faith within our daily lives.
For example, it would be amazing if someone were able to learn the complete history and Tradition of each sacrament, but all this knowledge would be in vain if this person does not live out his faith by practicing it everyday. If this were the case, this person would have a lot of knowledge but nowhere to use it, in other words, what good is it?
On the other hand, if this same person applied all that knowledge to help him practice the faith with more meaning, others would be able to notice his actions, ask him about them, and he could give an explanation. Thus, it is ever so much more valuable for that person to celebrate those sacraments with other members of the Church.
Since we, followers of Christ, are called to share our faith and the message of the Gospel with others, what could be a better way to do this than living out our faith in our daily lives? By doing this not only do we lead a life in Christ, but others are able to see the light of Christ in us. Jesus says, “Just so your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father,” (Cf. Matt. 5:16).
When others see the light of Christ within a member of the faithful, they become curious and many are filled with admiration. Others already have a hunger for Christ and just need a little help realizing that their appetite can only be satisfied by Christ.
Prayer has a vital role in leading a life of faith.
In order for us to live with our hearts devoted to God, we must ask him to be part of our life and petition him so that we do not fall into the human trap in which "'ignorance of God' is the principle and explanation of all moral deviations" (CCC. no. 5087).
God has told us many times that he is with us at all times and that he is an all-knowing and ever-present God. He is there even if you shut all the curtains and lock all the doors. Therefore, doesn’t it make sense that we should practice our faith always in all things? Even in everyday events, Christ is in all things: the person driving the vehicle next to yours, the cashier at the supermarket, and the janitor at the office; Christ can be found everywhere; not just at mass.
Since we encounter a part of Christ in all people, it is our duty to try to bring out a part of Him in others. By letting others see Christ acting in us, we are sharing our faith with people we meet.
Living in a way that lets others see Christ’s light in us is hard to do, especially since the culture today seems to point us all in the direction of individualism. The media tells us that we should help ourselves and that we are in charge. This goes against living in a way that reflects Christ. Jesus wants us to help others and ask Him for help and not rely totally on our own knowledge and ability. If we do live in a manner that imitates Christ, we will eventually be greatly rewarded in heaven for our persistence.
Finally, by continuing to learn and grow in the faith and knowing the doctrine of Christ, we become more open to God’s calling and to follow his plan. As we carry out God’s plan, others notice our actions and see our willingness and openness to Christ and hopefully are called to look at where their faith is in their own lives. This in turn is the driving force which starts the cycle of living and sharing the faith once again.
Stephanie is a faithful Catholic woman, loving wife and mother. She holds a
B.S. degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota. She attributes a Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreat in her teens as a catalyst to strengthen the faith she already had.