Journeys Begin With Questions
Every journey of discovery begins with a question. What if the world is not flat? Where does life begin? How does life begin? What is beyond a star? What is at the depths of the ocean? Questions have led people to explore the complexities of the universe, the vastness of earth and the mystery of what it means to be human. Our world is built on the results of questions asked and explored.
It is the same with the quest for God. The questions can be very similar. Who made this world? Is there anything beyond what we can see? Is this all there is? What happens when we die? Who is God? Why is there suffering? Is there any purpose to life? What is joy? Where can I find peace? Jesus always asked questions. “Who do you say that I am?”
The journey of faith begins with questions. There is power in asking questions of life, and there is grace in questioning. Without questioning there is no growth. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults recognizes the power and importance of questioning in the process of coming to faith as a Catholic. The RCIA begins with openness to the questions of those desiring to deepen their relationships with God and looking at the Catholic Church to be the place where this can happen. This initial phase is called Inquiry. Questions are asked by those inquiring about how Catholicism enriches one’s understanding of God through its sacraments, understanding of Scripture, Sacred Tradition, social teaching and beliefs.
Asking questions requires trust. It also requires listening carefully to another’s story without judgement. All must be involved in the process—parishioners, catechists, pastors, RCIA team members, families, sponsors – to ask questions as well. Where do we find the answers to our questions? We find them in the stories of our lives. Reflection reveals to us the mystery and power of God’s abounding love. It is in prayer and reflection on the deep questions of our lives that God is discovered in relationships, family, searching, death , birth, youth, aging, work and home where we experience the daily ordinary, yet extraordinary, dying and risings of each day.
On Jan. 21 the catechumens and candidates of the parishes in the Diocese of Evansville gathered at the Catholic Center to pray and listen together regarding the next step in their collective journey of faith. In this retreat attendees listened to the stories of faith born out of questions from businessman Lloyd Young, high school religion teacher Chad Breedan, and Vickie Eichmiller, Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul in Evansville in their personal journey through RCIA. Each speaker related their thirst for more, their experience with family and other Catholics, deep pain, struggle and, ultimately, their encounter with God who, they realized, had always been there for them.
Listening to another’s story and its connection with the larger Story of faith is always a powerful experience. In listening we find that we have the same questions, that our pain is felt by others, that joy is possible and that being Catholic is a way of life that deepens this encounter with Jesus Christ. Right now there are catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates (baptized seeking full communion) in our midst who have asked deep questions and will be listening to God’s movement in their lives during Lent.
As we accompany the catechumens and candidates in our midst, we are called to do the same. These faith-filled people inspire us to ask our own questions and to use Lent as a time of discernment, listening and reflecting on the challenge of the Gospel and the call to go deeper in our response. The call to discipleship is lifelong. Where are we on the journey? Where is God in our lives? Who do we say that Jesus is?
