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‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ John 14:6
This is how Jesus Christ describes himself in the gospel, as the way, the truth and the life and as the only way to God the Father. Christians, as followers of Jesus, want to follow this way, to learn these truths and to pursue the life he modeled. Going on this journey of imitating Christ causes us to grow as people and it challenges us to become more loving towards God and towards our neighbour.
Pope Benedict described this process beautifully saying that:
‘In Jesus of Nazareth we encounter the face of God, who came down from his heaven to immerse himself in the human world, in our world, and to teach “the art of living”, the road to happiness; to set us free from sin and make us children of God.’
Here at the Diocese of Arundel of Brighton, we have an excellent formation team who would be delighted to help you on your journey of faith.
‘Formation is not simply about the acquisition of facts or even the assembly of cogent arguments but it is about conforming the whole person to the likeness of Christ. The Formation Team members are highly motivated experts in their own particular fields who have been tasked with providing first class formation in all areas of Church life across the Diocese. Wherever possible this formation is provided locally, using the deaneries as a base, but always with the intention of helping people to flourish within their parishes. The Team have an office and resource base at the St Philip Howard Centre in Crawley but travel all over the Diocese to assist parishes in their development of catechesis and discipleship.’ Canon Kieron O’Brien
‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.’
In this letter from Peter, we see how the Church has always encouraged its members to be able to explain the hope of the gospel. In our own day, religious faith is typically met with cynicism and so we need to have our answers ready. As Bishop Richard writes:
‘The Church in this country finds herself in a very significant moment. Many have described society as ‘post-Christian’ or ‘post-religious.’ … In this place, the Christian is called to be both well-formed and well-informed. This is a time in which the Church must go out into the world … not to be self-absorbed, but to be confident in professing the True Faith.’
‘I want a laity, not arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, but men who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold and what they do not.’
