Humans, endowed with free choice in the image of our Creator, possess the capacity to inquire, probe questions, solve problems arising in our lives, and guide, organize, and direct our societies. This is the normal routine of our experience, and we don’t find anything unusual or out of order in this state of affairs. However, when things don’t go the way we’ve planned, we consider evil and undesirable everything that doesn’t follow our will. Consequently, we hinder, hamper, and impede them with determination.
What does God’s word mean to me? Not in the broad sense of being good, avoiding sin, or simply contemplating the virtues presented in the Gospels. Instead, I find meaning in the idea that God’s presence actively influences my daily decisions, even if they may seem insignificant.
In late Middle English, the word “symbol” referred to the Creed, derived from the Greek word “symbolon,” which means “to put together,” “to gather,” or “to be of the same mind.” It involved thinking about and understanding a reality in a harmonious and not contradictory manner. Specifically, it emphasized maintaining the connection between words and the realities they represented, avoiding the separation of symbols from the mysteries they signified.
The Greek word diabolos, meaning “the devil,” “the divider,” “the one who sows discord and enmity,” and “severs the connection between words and their meanings,” is the opposite of the meaning of the word “symbol.” For instance, separating the “cross” from the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus represents the fundamental nature of the evil one, Satan, who knows how to destroy all meaning, separate the sign from the reality it represents, and scatter, destroying unity.
Matthew recounts that upon Jesus’ death on the cross, the veil of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, causing the earth to quake and the rocks to split. (27.51) He doesn’t portray these events as mere literary devices; instead, he describes the reality of the shattering of the very foundation of faith upon which the Covenant between God and his people was built. At that moment, the treaty of eternal life was broken, and the Light was veiled by infidelity, allowing the spread of darkness and evil.
The resurrection of Jesus established the New Covenant, a union of God and Man in friendship, made possible by the power of faith that brings righteousness. Jesus’ farewell words during the Last Supper encapsulate the essence of friendship and the call for unity.
How can we, as individuals, manifest the invitation of the Lord in our lives? Where do we find the deeds that serve as evidence of our discipleship? What actions do we undertake to demonstrate our faith? How can we align ourselves with our Lord Jesus Christ?
Being a Christian is not merely an intellectual pursuit of learning and understanding doctrinal concepts. It is a profound discipleship that involves living out the teachings of our Lord through his life-giving and creative words.
