Faith Alone

As Christians we know that we are saved by our faith alone, but because of this many people believe that all you have to do is go to church once a week to call yourself a Christian. However, as Christians we are called to do much more than that. Unfortunately this "slogan" of being saved "by faith alone" has made us lazy. I really don't like that phrase. It's like saying, "I don't have to put effort into my work because I am smart." Or, "my garden will flourish because I planted it, in good soil." Because of this mentality, there are many Catholics today, who only go to Mass once a week, and check it off their "Heaven Points" list.

Being a Catholic is so much more then, just going to Mass. A synonym for the word "Catholic" is universal. We are the universal church. Our church is for everyone. Meaning, every person we meet is part of our church, whether or not they go to Mass, or are even Christian. They are still our brothers and sisters under God.

Unfortunately, many of our brothers and sisters live in negative environments. Whether they live across the ocean, and face genocide, war, and extreme poverty daily, or across the street and are dealing with alcoholism, drug abuse, and violence. These people are still part of our universal church; they are part of our family.

As Catholics we are called much more then to go to Mass once a week, we are called to help others in need. Luke 4:16-19 says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and that the time has come when the Lord will set free his people."

Even though Jesus is no longer physically on Earth with us, he still wants us to carry out his work, by helping the poor, set free the captives of poverty, slavery, and social discrimination; and to help other Catholics, get involved in being the hands and feet of Jesus.

What I'm trying to say is, just going to Mass once a week doesn't cut it. There are no loop holes in Catholicism. To be Catholic you need to not only be in a constant state of prayer and faith, but also be an advocate of justice and peace. As his Holiness Pope Francis said after visiting the slums in Rio De Janerio, "I would like to make an appeal to those in possession of greater resources, to public authorities and to all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity! No one can remain insensitive to the inequalities that persist in the world!  Everybody, according to his or her particular opportunities and responsibilities, should be able to make a personal contribution to putting an end to so many social injustices.  The culture of selfishness and individualism that often prevails in our society is not what builds up and leads to a more habitable world: it is the culture of solidarity that does so, seeing others not as rivals or statistics, but brothers and sisters."

By Savannah Olshove, Intern at the Office of Social Ministry