This belief, manifesting itself in both the personal and communal, causes entire groups of people to changes their lives. The Church, from her early beginnings at Pentecost, encompassed the whole scope of humanity rich and poor, slave and free, uneducated and scholarly. Then, as now, in the midst of arguments, discord, hurt feelings even possible schism, it is too easy to forget that which does make us one heart and mind, that which makes us the body of Christ faith in Him who died for our sins, faith in Him whom we cannot see, and yet believe. It is a dynamic thing, constantly growing, changing, challenging, and in turn being challenged. Faith, however, despite its reasonableness, is often refined and purified in the crucible of doubt.
Faith demands growth and experience.
During childhood, a person may be drawn to the mysteries of faith by the visible signs and symbols of the liturgy, stories from the Bible, or even the good example of a priest, sister or pious lay person. More often than not these first two steps of faith occur with ease, and alas many people stay right there and go no further. Our plans do not seems to coincide with God s plans. Life offers its usual fare of disappointments, hurdles, and setbacks. The ways of the world not only seem attractive, but seem far reasonable than belief in something that really can never be proven.