What if Lent Could Rekindle Your Faith? Exploring the Kerygma
Life can take us on unexpected paths, and sometimes our faith journey can feel like it’s taken a detour. If you’ve found yourself distant from your faith, or if you’re simply curious about exploring it again, this Lenten season offers a gentle invitation to reconnect. These daily reflections focus on the Kerygma, the core message of Christianity – a message of love, hope, and new beginnings. We’ll be exploring eight key “Acts” of God’s story, from creation to our present call to partnership with Him. There’s no pressure, no judgment, just an invitation to consider a different perspective and perhaps rediscover a connection you thought was lost.
Act 6 of the Kerygma: The Church and the Sacraments
Theme – The Believer’s Union with Christ in His Death and Resurrection
Jesus chooses His disciples to carry on His mission (Matthew 28:19-20). He establishes the Church as a visible expression of His love on earth. Through the sacraments, He offers us the grace to live a life transformed by His love (CCC 1076).
Matthew 16:18-19 The establishment of the Church and the authority given to Peter
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Reflection
Imagine Jesus turning to you and saying, “On you, I will build my Church.” Can you feel the weight and wonder of that statement? It’s a powerful reminder that you are not just a passive recipient of God’s grace, but an active participant in building His Kingdom.
This passage reveals the incredible trust God places in each of us. He entrusts us with the keys to the Kingdom, the power to unlock the doors of heaven for others. This is not a license to control, but a call to serve, to be instruments of God’s love and mercy in the world.
As we continue our Lenten journey, let us reflect on how we can be better stewards of this gift. How can we use our words and actions to build up the Church, to bring others closer to Christ? Let us pray for the strength to live out our baptismal promises and to be faithful witnesses to the Kingdom of God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for the unique gifts you have given me. Help me to use those gifts to build up your kingdom and to serve others. Give me the courage to share my faith with the world and to be a light in the darkness. Amen.
Action
Today, take some time to reflect on your own unique gifts and talents. How can you use those gifts to serve others and to bring them closer to God?
The Kerygma
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post