Three ways to knowing God (the world, the human being and the faith) provided the theme for Benedict XVI’s catechesis during his general audience, held Wednesday morning in the Paul VI Hall.
The Holy Father began by explaining that “God’s initiative always precedes any initiative on the part of man, and, even on our journey towards Him, it is He Who first illuminates and guides us, while always respecting our freedom. … God never tires of seeking us, He is faithful to the man. He created and redeemed, and He remains close to us because He loves us. This is a certainty which must accompany us every day”.
“We know that today the faith faces no lack of difficulties and trials, and its often poorly understood, contested and rejected…In our world the situation had changed, and believers have to be increasingly able to give reasons for their faith. … Our own times have seen the emergence of a phenomenon which is particularly dangerous for the faith.”
Faced with challenges, the Church, “faithful to Christ’s mandate, never ceases to affirm the truth about man and his destiny”, said the Pope. Yet, he asked, “what responses is the faith called to give – with ‘mildness and respect’ – to atheism, scepticism and indifference to the vertical dimension, so that the men and women of our time may continue to question themselves about the existence of God, and follow the paths that lead to Him?
Nowadays, “many people have a limited concept of Christian faith, which they identify as a mere system of beliefs and values, and not as the truth of God revealed throughout history in order to communicate directly with mankind. … In reality, at the basis of all doctrine and values is the encounter between man and God in Jesus Christ. Christianity, rather than a moral or ethical code, is first and foremost the experience of love in welcoming Christ”, Benedict XVI concluded.
Vatican City, 14 November 2012 (VIS)