Catholicism: A Letter To My Squad and Supporters.

 

As boot camp came and went, so did many questions about my Catholic faith. Difficult questions that I have been wrestling with for years, came to the surface and were completely present while at boot camp. Questions such as the importance of Confession, Purgatory, The Second Coming, receiving the ACTUAL Body and Blood into my body during mass, and what all of that meant to me. Things that were different between Christians and Christian Catholics raced through my mind as I walked through one of the hardest weeks of my life.

 

Something so beautiful about having questions though is that it meant I was struggling. Struggling is beautiful because it means that I have a desire to WANT to know more about Jesus. It means that I am not content with where I am at because I know that there is more to learn. 

 

As humans, we desire to know answers to questions immediately. If we cannot receive an answer to a question as soon as we ask it, we begin to conform to the opinions around us. I am no exception. I have struggled with conforming to my surroundings my whole life. Whether that be in school, sports, friendships, or any other environment that I’m in for a set period of time. The situation was no different at boot camp. I was surrounded by all Christians from different religious backgrounds (and one other Catholic). There were thoughts being spewed out over our squad and me about our faith and what it meant to us. It was absolutely beautiful to see Jesus through them! But this nonetheless, raised intense, difficult questions in my mind. When something was said that I did not necessarily agree with, My prayer was “Father, please speak truth into this, I don’t know what is right or wrong, but you do, so please speak truth.” As this prayer rushed through my mind I began asking questions to my squad about their religions and why they believed certain things. Some of the things that were said made sense and seemed truthful. Their religions and what they believed were beautiful and there is no way I could say any different. However, Jesus laid something really heavy on my heart recently. He said, “Why do you continue to go to other people with your questions before you come to me.” And man, when I say this phrase from the Lord changed my life, it did just that. I wanted to know the answers immediately, and that is not how the Father works. He wants to give us answers to our questions, but only when He believes we are ready for them. 

 

The Catholic religion has been the foundation of my faith throughout my life. However, I never truly knew what it meant to be Catholic until my sophomore year of high school. Quite frankly at that point in time, I thought that Catholicism, Non-denominational, Baptist, Methodist, etc. were all the same with very few differences. In the past few years, I have realized that this is not necessarily the case. We have differing opinions on things including the Second Coming, Purgatory, The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, The sacraments such as Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Anointing Of The Sick, and Matrimony. These are things that are not only important to me but have shaped the beliefs that I have today. I have lived in these truths of the Catholic faith that have not only allowed me into a more intimate relationship with Jesus but have helped me grasp the truth of what it means to be his beloved daughter. 

 

One thing we do have in common though is that WE ARE ALL HERE TO SERVE AND LOVE THE SAME GOD! 

 

I have never experienced something as beautiful as adoration. Jesus literally bringing heaven to earth and allowing me to bask in his presence!! I have seen him, heard him, and felt him while in adoration and that is something I could never give up. Whenever I receive Jesus into my body through the Eucharist, I know it’s Him. This is the CLOSEST I could ever get to him on earth! There are some things that people believe and there are some things that are facts. Please know that there is a difference. I believe that the Eucharist is the actual body of Jesus Christ. I believe that I get to receive his body into myself in hopes that it can make me more like him. I believe that He is present on earth when I am sitting in adoration. There are some things that as a Catholic that I know are true and could never give up. 

 

But please don’t get me wrong, there are so many beautiful pieces of the Non-Denominational faith, the Methodist faith, the Baptist faith, etc. However, that is not where I find the full truth of Jesus Christ. First, I find his full truth in my relationship with Him. Secondly, I find his truth in aspects of the Catholic Faith that I have not found in other religions.

 

To all of my squadmates, I do not want this to come across the wrong way, but the Catholic faith is the choice I have made for my relationship with God. It is something I have worked hard to understand and stand firm in. I recognize that it may not come across as true to you but that does not mean it is not true to me. I just ask that as we walk this journey together, that we learn to respect each other’s religions, faiths, and relationships with Jesus. I am completely open to discussions to find our common love for Jesus and experiencing our faith journey together. While it is a challenge to defend my Catholic faith to others that have different viewpoints, I think God’s grace will allow us to find our common ground and grow together as the Body of Christ. I want us to focus on loving and praising one God together, no matter what religion we are a part of. I also want to note that I am open to what the Lord wants to do in my life in the future, no matter where that leads me. But if we are completely truthful with one another, all Jesus wants us to do is love each other, exactly where we’re at. I love you guys and am praying for your truth.