Being a Catholic Today

I look at the crucifix, and I see a Man, a God-Man,

named Jesus, called the Christ,  who lived for us and died for us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."

John 3:16 

The Church He established on earth, and this is the only Church established by Jesus and carried on by the Apostles, is the only Church established by the 

Son of God.

The Catholic Church is ancient.

It's over 2,000 years old.

The world was very different then.

The Jews were waiting for the Messiah.
The problem was that, at that time, they did not recognize Him.
They expected Him to come and save them from the Romans.
He didn't, but He did come to challenge them.

Today, we are still challenged by Jesus.
Our world is heavy with sin.
We live in a culture where there is no wrong, where everything is right. 
Morality is what you decide it should be.

Being Catholic is not easy today.
As Catholics, we must follow the Truth because the Truth cannot contradict itself.
The Truth is always right.
The Truth is never wrong.
 We must show, by our actions, that we are loving and merciful to others.
We must follow the Commandments that Moses brought down from the mountains.
We must live an upright and moral life in a world where we will be scorned and disdaned.
We must be the light.
We must be the salt,
even when we are rejected.

Being a Catholic today is not easy,
but 
we have not been promised that life would be easy,
we have only been promised that when we die, a  moral life would be worth it.

Lord, help me to remain true to You.
You gave me the gift of our faith, help me to be strong.
When the world calls me to break your commandments,
I know that I will fall at times, but I ask for Your Strength and Courage to return to the grace of Your love.
Help me, Lord. 
Help me.