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In the midst of a rapidly changing world, where ideas and trends arise and disappear quickly, being a Christian can seem challenging. But what does it really mean to be Christian today? How does our faith define us, and what is our identity as followers of Christ? The Catechism of the Catholic Church offers profound yet practical answers that can illuminate our daily lives and help us understand who we are and what our purpose is as Christians.
The Christian Identity: Children of God in Christ
The Catechism begins its teaching by affirming something essential: being Christian is being a child of God by the grace of faith and baptism. Here, a key truth is highlighted that we sometimes forget in our everyday lives: our relationship with God is not one of a distant being with His creation, but that of a loving Father with His children. Through baptism, we are incorporated into the divine family, which confers on us infinite dignity and value.
This has very concrete implications for our daily lives. If we understand that we are children of God, then our lives take on special meaning. We are not a mere accident nor do we live to survive day by day. God has called us to live with purpose, and that purpose is to love Him and others. Being Christian means living with the awareness that we have a mission in the world: to be witnesses of God’s love in our relationships, in our work, and in our decisions.
Faith as a Response: An Encounter with Christ
The Catechism also teaches us that being Christian is not just about following rules or living a correct ethic; rather, it is the result of a personal encounter with Christ. This encounter, which can happen in different ways for each person, is what transforms our lives. When we encounter Christ, we not only change our way of viewing the world but also discover the true face of God.
It is through this encounter with Jesus, who died and rose again for our salvation, that we discover the unconditional love that God has for us. This is the essence of Christianity: the Christian is someone who has been loved first by God and who, in response, chooses to love God and others. Here, the Catechism invites us to a deep reflection: Have we allowed that encounter with Christ to truly transform our lives? Or have we fallen into a routine and traditional faith without the love of Christ motivating us to act?
To live as Christians in the modern world, we must continually remember that first love—the moment we discovered Jesus. The Catechism reminds us that our faith is not simply a series of abstract beliefs, but a living relationship with a person: Jesus.
The Path of Faith: Believe, Celebrate, and Live
The Catechism organizes Christian life around three great pillars: the faith we profess, the sacraments we celebrate, and the moral life we live. Each of these aspects defines what it means to be Christian in our daily lives.
- The Faith We Profess: As Christians, we believe in a God who is one and three, in Jesus Christ who became incarnate, died, and rose for our salvation, and in the Holy Spirit who guides us. This creed is not merely an intellectual declaration but a truth that shapes our lives. How does this faith influence our daily decisions? When we believe that God is our Father, for example, that gives us confidence and peace in the midst of life’s difficulties. Knowing that we are redeemed by Christ liberates us from despair and gives us hope amid suffering.
- The Sacraments We Celebrate: Through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, Christians unite with Christ in a very real way. The Catechism teaches us that each sacrament is an encounter with the living Christ, who strengthens and transforms us. Christian life, therefore, is not just a private and isolated relationship with God, but a communion with Him and with others. The sacraments bind us to the Church, the Body of Christ, and remind us that we are not alone in our faith journey.
- The Moral Life We Live: Being Christian is not just about believing or celebrating the sacraments, but also about living in a way that reflects God’s love. The Catechism invites us to live according to the commandment of love, which summarizes all of God’s law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:37-39). This commandment has implications for our daily lives: from how we treat our family and friends to how we act at work or how we relate to those who think differently.
Being Christian in the Modern World: A Testimony of Love
The Catechism acknowledges that living as a Christian in the modern world can be challenging. Contemporary thought currents often promote an individualistic and relativistic view of life, where truth and goodness are subjective matters. In this context, being Christian means being witnesses to an absolute truth: the love of God revealed in Christ.
Therefore, being Christian is not about conforming to society’s values, but about being the light of the world and the salt of the earth (Mt 5:13-16). This testimony is given, above all, through example. It is not about imposing our faith but about living it with coherence. When we love others, when we live with humility and serve generously, we are reflecting the face of Christ to the world.
Being Christian Means Living with Hope
Finally, being Christian means living with a hope that does not disappoint (Rom 5:5). The world offers us many empty promises, but Christianity gives us firm hope: eternal life with God. This hope transforms our view of life. We know that our difficulties do not have the last word, that God is always with us, and that, in the end, good will triumph.
In summary, being Christian, according to the Catechism, is to live as beloved children of God, transformed by an encounter with Christ, strengthened by the sacraments, and called to love others with a heart like Jesus’. It is an identity that gives meaning to our existence and invites us to be living signs of God’s love in a world that desperately needs that light.
