August 26, Tuesday Weekday

The Lord comes to judge the earth.--Psalm 96:13

Mass readings: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17 / Matthew 23:23-26

Hold Fast to the Traditions

I recently talked to a young man who had been raised a Catholic but had stopped going to church regularly. Now he was thinking of going back but, like many people, he thought he was ''spiritual but not religious.'' He was afraid that ''religion'' would hamper his ''spirituality.''

I encouraged him to reconnect with the Catholic Church. One of my arguments for this is summed up by St. Paul in today's reading from Second Thessalonians: ''stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught.'' We don't have to figure out for ourselves how to live as a Christian. Our Catholic faith teaches us how to do it. It's God's revelation, passed down by the Church through the centuries. How freeing it is to stand firm in it.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for the great gift of our faith.