Offering hope and witness
In today’s Gospel, Jesus answers a question and says, “My Father is at work until now, so I AM at work” – thereby making Himself equal to the Father. Then He goes on, explaining, “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what He sees the Father doing; for what He does, the Son will do also.”
I question myself: Do I believe this? How would I react if I were there listening to Him? Would I think: He is just a man, and God created the Universe. God is all-powerful. He is Existence. How can He (a man) be equal to God?
Onlookers probably heard or saw how Jesus cured lepers, made a blind man see, etc., but that doesn’t make him God. It’s in confronting that question that His death on the cross and His resurrection make sense and offer meaning. But ultimately, it is only Jesus’ gift of faith that allows me to believe in Him.
I thank Christ every day for this wonderful gift. It has taught me to be humble, and has given me understanding, confidence and peace. In today’s skeptical culture, it provides a light and path to a spiritual reality that only through faith can we achieve.
I believe that our mission at Catholic Charities is not just to provide material needs to the poor and marginalized, as important as they are, but also to offer hope and witness to Christ, so others can receive the gift of faith in Him. He is the Truth and the Answer.
Roberto Partarrieu is Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of La Crosse.