Credo, I Believe!
A Refection on the Gospel of John 10: 31-42 - 22 March 2024
As part of preparing adults to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, during the Pre-Catechumenate phase of the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), we dive into the meaning of the Creeds, particularly the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds. In the wisdom of the Church, the ancient practice of the Presentation of the Creed is preserved in the OCIA. At the end of the Pre-Catechumenate, we ask the inquirers to recite the Creed and give them a card with both the Nicene and Apostles’ Creed printed on it to carry with them and pray. It is more important than many imagine.
Years ago, someone who had just come through OCIA came to me excited about an encounter with a co-worker. She told me that the co-worker had aggressively challenged her over the past months about her decision to enter the Catholic Church. Finally, after repeated discussions, the neophyte Catholic grew exasperated with the endless back and forth. She told me that she avoided the woman for several days and grew depressed at her inability to clearly state her faith.
The new Catholic began to question her faith and it scared her! Finally, she told me that she began to earnestly pray about the situation. It was amid prayer that the answer immediately hit her, “like a sledgehammer!” She thought, “I have the Creed Card in my purse! That is what I believe.”
The next morning, she approached the woman, pulled out her card, and said very simply; “This is what I believe with all my heart. I stake my life on the words written on this card. This is what the Church believes now and has always professed.”
The woman’s coworker silently read the card and then asked, “Do you really believe this?”
The neophyte Catholic responded with tears in her eyes, “with all my being!” She then walked away, giving the card to her co-worker.
The same woman who so aggressively challenged the new Catholic, entered the Church at the Easter Vigil of the following year. That is the power of the simple statement, “Credo, I believe,” if we let it seep into our minds, our hearts, our souls.
At every Sunday Mass, and every other day of Holy Obligation, the Church stops, having heard the Scriptures proclaimed and explained, to pray the Creed. It is a pivotal moment, a hinge upon which the Liturgy of the Mass turns. For, with the simple statement, “I believe,” followed by the definitive, “amen,” Hebrew for, “so be it,” “so it is,” or “it is true,” we stake our lives in faith in God, the Blessed Trinity, the Lord, and in His one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. In the Creed, we place our hope in almighty God’s miracle of the Eucharist. With our “Credo,” we drop our rocks, our obstacles to faith, and stand with and in God.
In the Gospel today we hear,
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God. (John 10:31–33 NABRE)
Stoning was the most common form of execution in the Hebrew Scriptures and still continues in some cultures. It is very ugly and intensely personal. Each stone is hurled at close range such that the unfortunate victim dies painfully before the eyes of the executioners, not with just one blow but with countless blows until the victim slowly succumbs. Each stone is a pronounced, “no,” to the victim and what they stand for.
In the Gospel, the people are preparing to stone Jesus for blasphemy, for making Himself out to be God. Jesus tries to reason with those who want to stone him, to help them recognize the truth; to believe. Each stone is a rejection of belief in the miracles God has given. Each stone is a rejection of who Jesus is. Jesus is telling the people in the Gospel, and He is telling us today, to put down the stones and believe. Realize and understand, Jesus Christ is Lord.
Next week, as we enter Holy Week, reflect on the Creed. It is more than some ancient statement of dogma; it is what we are staking our lives on, just as that neophyte Catholic did so beautifully, many years ago. Reflect on what rock of disbelief you still hold in your hand. Then, with intention, drop them and embrace the miracle of the Paschal Mystery. It is the mystery of our salvation, love so deep that we can understand it but, never fully comprehend. With each statement of the Creed, drop the stones of your resistance to the Word, rejoice in our God, and believe.
Faced with the rebellion of my flesh and the diabolical arguments against my Faith, I love Jesus and I believe: I do Love and do Believe.
(St Josemaría Escrivá, The Forge 235)
End Notes
Escrivá, Josemaría. The Forge . Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Hirsch, David. (2016, January 11). Once I was stoned. Gods Love Never Fails. https://godsloveneverfails.com/2016/01/03/once-i-was-stoned/
New American Bible. Revised Edition (NABRE). Washington, DC: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011. Print.
I woke up earlier than planned this morning. As I had extended time to pray, I prayed prayed something similar to what you wrote. I thank the Holy Spirit for putting these words in your mouth! It is wonderful. "Reflect on what rock of disbelief you still hold in your hand." What a loving and faithful Father we have.
Such a beautiful reflection on today’s Gospel, Deacon! Thank you for the reminder to read the Creed during this time of lent.