Is He Real?

“He’s not real.” Standing in my kitchen, I overheard this conversation between Allie and her friend.

“Yes, he is,” Allie said.

“Well, I just don’t believe that he even exists,” S. replied.

“How can you say that?” Allie asked. He is love and goodness and is always kind, especially to kids.

“But he’s not real,” S. insisted.

“You should try to believe in him, because you don’t want to miss out on all the gifts he’s going to bring to you. “

“My parents get me gifts,” S. replied.

“So do mine, but he brings me the best gifts. Aren’t you afraid if you keep saying you don’t believe that you will miss out? “

“Well, maybe,” S. started to think about it. Or, Allie wasn’t giving up. I wasn’t sure which.

“You don’t have to believe if you don’t want to, but at my house we all believe. His real name is Nicholas, and we call him St. Nicholas or St. Nick. And people all over the world have heard of his good deeds, kindness and love. Do you think so many people all over the world believe if he is not real?” Hey, do you want to go outside and swing?”

And just like that, the girls were off.

I couldn’t help but think about the conversation I just overheard. Two eight year olds, both good girls from good families, with different beliefs. This will be just one of many conversations Allie will have in her lifetime with friends who don’t share her same belief system. I was proud of my little Allie. I was proud to hear her defend her beliefs. When she said, “Don’t believe if you want, but at my house we believe.” I couldn’t help but think of “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I was proud that believing in Santa was about the love, kindness and goodness, as well as the gifts. And I was proud that in her love for her friend, she wanted to share her truth, but was respectful of her friend’s beliefs too.

Who knows? Maybe I am raising a little apologist?

What’s that? Apologetics? Oh well, the dictionary defines it as:
Apologetics noun a·pol·o·get·ics ??päl?'jetiks/
reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine.

There are many misunderstood beliefs in the Catholic faith. And there are many Catholics who misunderstand their own faith. As one reads the history of our salvation (The Holy Bible, The Word of God), it is easy to see a pattern emerge, a pattern of God’s people who worship and practice and KNOW their faith. And yet, somehow, cracks begin to form in the knowledge that people in our own weakness, taunted by the Prince of Darkness, begin to slip away. And when you don’t know or don’t understand why you do, or believe the things that we do and believe, it is easy to be led astray.

Of course, this is what Satan wants.

The good news of the Gospel is that Satan never gets the last word. The pattern that emerges is people as a community fall away, and then they come back. I can’t help but think that as a Catholic Church in America we went through a dry spell, a falling away. So many Catholics were not given the education on their faith to understand and enter into the beauty of our sacraments, our traditions, our Creed, our beliefs. And seeking the LOVE they were made to have, they began to look elsewhere. Sometimes they were lured by Satan to fleshly desires; sometimes they were lured by other religions that offered what they mistakenly thought was missing.

Well here is the Good News… the Catholic Church has swung the pendulum back! The communities are alive and on fire with faith. The religious education programs are teaching the doctrine. Pope Francis has shown the world the face of faith and love - indeed the face of Jesus.

If you have been away, I invite you back. If you haven’t been away, but maybe just don’t really know why we do everything we do, I invite you to learn. Rites of Christian Initiation are starting all over the U.S. There are Bible studies and adult religious education classes at most parishes. Even though you are Catholic, enroll and be amazed. Find out the real answers to everything that Catholics do and believe.

Allie and her friend were speaking about St Nicholas. But what if we substitute God?

Is God real? Yes. Does He bring the best gifts? Yes.

Just like Allie loves her friend and doesn’t want her to miss out, I love you and Jesus loves you, and we don’t want you to miss out on all the gifts that He has planned for you.

Is He calling you?

http://www.catholicscomehome.org/