Image by Oleg Ilyushin from Pixabay
Every now and then, I get into a religious chat.
And, every now and then, the person I’m talking to will pause in the middle of the conversation, lean forward, and politely ask me, “You really don’t believe the Catholic Church is the One, True Faith, do you?”
The first time that it happened I was caught off guard.
I found it odd that the person thought that under a shroud of secrecy I would come clean and denounce the faith I dutifully promote publicly.
Today, I’m better prepared for the question then I was that day. However, my response remains the same:
Don’t you believe the church you attend is the One, True Faith? … If not, then why do you belong to it?”
Disagreements, like this, among Christians are not new.
In his Commentary on Galatians, the prolific St. Jerome wrote about a minor squabble between some early Christians in Ephesus and St. John the Apostle.
The blessed John the Evangelist lived in Ephesus until extreme old age. His disciples could barely carry him to church and he could not muster the voice to speak many words. During individual gatherings he usually said nothing but, “Little children, love one another.” The disciples and brothers in attendance, annoyed because they always heard the same words, finally said, “Teacher, why do you always say this?” He replied with a line worthy of John: “Because it is the Lord’s commandment and if it alone is kept, it is sufficient.”
This example of St. John should remind us that we must let our conversations always be full of grace. As apocryphal as it may be, this lesson taught by St. John is applicable even today.
Simply put, it doesn’t matter what you believe — be it Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Scripture Alone or any other dogma de Fide. You are only truly of the One, True Faith when your daily practice starts and ends with the simple commandment to Love Alone!
Sola Caritas! Blessed Pascha!
James Henry is the author of Corporation YOU: A Business Plan for the Soul, Hail Mary series, and two children’s books: The Second Prince and Klaus: The Gift-giver to ALL! As a writer, James has been widely featured on Bob Salter (CBS Radio), Mike Siegel, Mancow, and more.
Today, James lives in New York where he continues to teach — and write.
To contact James or book an interview, please contact Mark of Goldman/McCormick PR at (516) 639-0988 or Mark@goldmanmccormick.com.
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