Year of Faith: Oct. 11, 2012-Nov. 24, 2013
The Year of Faith starts from the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council on 11 October 2012 until the Solemnity of Christ the King on 24 November 2013. The Year of Faith is an invitation for all Catholics to go back to God – to renew our faith individually, as a family, as a community, as one Catholic Church. I love how Pope Benedict summarizes its purpose: to give fresh impetus to the mission of the whole Church to lead human beings out of the wilderness in which they often find themselves to the place of life, friendship with Christ that gives us life in fullness.
I was talking to a priest friend early this morning over the phone and he shared a little of what their family is undergoing right now. His father was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and the cancer cells have unfortunately affected his other organs. The doctor suggested palliative care, just to ease the pain without having him confined longer at the hospital. Then he asked how we coped when I found out that I had stage 3 colon cancer and underwent six sessions of chemotherapy in the process. It is always hard to act normally when a family member is ill but it’s really important to show moral support and yes, act normal. Carry on as you meant to but show more love and concern. Unless you experience the same predicament, you can never empathize enough. When you are ill, insecurity stares at you in the face but the best thing to overcome it is always having enough faith that you will get well. God’s ways are not ours but God’s ways are the best. And prayers are the best gifts we could give to someone. No matter how short it is if it comes deep from your heart, then it is the best prayer you can offer.
Max Lucado expressed it beautifully when he said “Our belief in God is not blind faith. Belief is having a firm conviction something is true, not hoping it’s true.”
Dreams And Escapes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.