Sharing Our Faith

“For I long to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith, yours and mine,” (Rom. 1:11-12).

Ever get together with other Christian siblings that you haven’t seen in a while and when you come together it’s like your faith is completely renewed simply by being in their company? I swear, it’s true! This past holiday, I spend the weekend with fellow college students from several years back. We went to seminary together and eventually became good friends. The weekend was spent doing regular stuff like shopping, dining, barbecuing, etc., but when we shared about our lives, we did so in a manner that inspired one another. We weren’t preaching, we were simply testifying to God’s presence in our lives - and that’s what happens when siblings in Christ get together, without intending to, we sharpened each others’ faith and we were encouraged by each other.

God intends for us to be united as a church even if the group is small:

"Christ bestowed unity on his Church from the beginning. This unity, we believe, subsists in the Catholic Church as something she can never lose, and we hope that it will continue to increase until the end of time." Christ always gives his Church the gift of unity, but the Church must always pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity that Christ wills for her. This is why Jesus himself prayed at the hour of his Passion, and does not cease praying to his Father, for the unity of his disciples: "That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, so that the world may know that you have sent me." The desire to recover the unity of all Christians is a gift of Christ and a call of the Holy Spirit,” (CCC 820).

Paul couldn’t wait to be reunited with his friends to encourage them with his faith and neither could I! “The principle of solidarity, also articulated in terms of "friendship" or "social charity," is a direct demand of human and Christian brotherhood” (CCC 1939). Wanting to share my faith is letting others know what God is doing in my life, because I live my faith. Naturally, Christian brethren will want to do the same and we sharpen one another by encouraging each other to continue in our life of prayer: “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another,” (Prov. 27:17).