November 25, 2012 - Nativity of Our Lord

THIRTY-FOURTH
SUNDAY IN
ORDINARY TIME
Nativity of Our Lord
CATHOLIC CHURCH & SCHOOL
THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING
The Solemnity of Christ the
King is the last Sunday in
Ordinary Time before Advent.
It was instituted in 1925 by
Pope Pius XI in his encyclical
Quas Primas. Originally on
the last Sunday in October,
this feast day was given a new
date in 1969 by Pope Paul VI,
who moved it to the last
Sunday of the liturgical year.
NOVEMBER

LITURGICAL
SCHEDULE
Mass Times:
Weekend Masses:
Saturday 4:30pm
Sunday 7:30am,
9:30am, & 11:30am
Youth Mass 5:00pm
Daily Mass:
Monday-Thursday 7:30am
Friday & Saturday 8:00am
First Friday of the month: 12:00pm
Sacrament of Penance:
Saturday 8:30am & 3:00pm
Sunday 30 min. prior to each Mass
PARISH
OFFICE
900 Midway Blvd.
Broomfield, CO 80020
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
8:00am-5:00pm
www.nool.us
Phone: 303-469-5171
Fax: 303-469-5172
School: 303-466-4177
PLEASE NOTE!
Send all
bulletin information
to Jacquie Fankell at
j.fankell@nool.us
by Tuesdays at noon.
Readings for this Week:
Sunday: Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33b-37
Monday: Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5; Luke 21:1-4
Tuesday: Revelation 14:14-19; Luke 21:5-11
Wednesday: Revelation 15:1-4; Luke 21:12-19
Thursday: Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a; Luke 21:20-28
Friday: Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22
Saturday: Revelation 22:1-7; Luke 21:34-36
Next Sunday: Jer. 33:14-16; 1 Thes. 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Pastor
Fr. Michael Carvill, ext. 114
m.carvill@nool.us
Parochial Vicar
Fr. Diego Garcia, ext. 110
d.garcia@nool.us
In Residence
Fr. Gabriele Azzalin
g.azzalin@nool.us
Fr. Accursio Ciaccio, ext. 121
a.ciaccio@nool.us
Deacons
Richard A. Medenwaldt, ext. 106
r.medenwaldt@nool.us
Leonard “Buz” Onesky, ext. 106
l.onesky@nool.us
Director of Admin. Services
David Hazen, ext. 111
d.hazen@nool.us
Business Manager
Kyle Hubbart, ext. 108
k.hubbart@nool.us
School Principal
Kathy Shadel, ext. 119
k.shadel@nool.us
Director of Faith Formation
Mark Thomason, ext. 104
m.thomason@nool.us
Development Director
Ilene DuBey, 303-641-3667
i.dubey@nool.us
Director of Religious Education
Diane Irby, ext. 103
d.irby@nool.us
Director of Music
Tad Koriath, ext. 123
t.koriath@nool.us
Parish Registrar
Merrilyn Sikora, ext. 101
m.sikora@nool.us
Business Office Accountant
Carol Sullivan, ext. 109
c.sullivan@nool.us
Administrative Assistant - Front Desk
Belinda Marquez-Salgado, ext. 100
b.marquez.salgado@nool.us
Faith Formation Program Assistant
Kyla Dahlquist, ext. 105
k.dahlquist@nool.us
IT Specialist
Paul O’Brien, ext. 115
p.obrien@nool.us
Pastoral Communications Associate
Jacquie Fankell
j.fankell@nool.us
Promoter of Works of Charity
Maura Johnson
m.johnson@nool.us

THIS WEEK
AT NATIVITY
MASS INTENTIONS
Sunday, November 25
7:30am †Janina & Alojzy Wegrzyn by the Wegrzyn Family
9:30am People of the Parish
11:30am †Lewis Anthony Caricato by Joe & Betty Trujillo
5:00pm Bryce Buderus by the Buderus Family
Monday, November 26
7:30am †Carol Merlo by Allen Floyd & Family
Tuesday, November 27
7:30am Ben Carreon by Melissa Durow
Wednesday, November 28
7:30am †James Reichert by Paul & Nicki Battista
Thursday, November 29
7:30am †Jim Reichert by the Aillo Family
Friday, November 30
8:00am †Jerry Tigges by the Tigges Family
Saturday, December 1
8:00am Ben Carreon by Melisa Durow
4:30pm †Edna Sermak by Phil & Eloise Sermak
Sunday, December 2
7:30am †Sontina Spehar by Carol Scardello
9:30am People of the Parish
11:30am †Gerry & Harold Swart by Marylou Sivigliano
5:00pm †Willie Barbier by the Barbier & Samborski Families
Prayers for the Sick:
We pray for all who are sick, especially for Andrea Gambino.
For our deceased relatives and friends
that they may speedily attain the blessedness of heaven and rejoice in
the eternal treasure of God’s glory and God’s love. We pray especially
for Donna Loper and Wilbert Hach.
Collection Counters This Week: Donald Larson,
John Spanich, Chasson Abeyta, Debra Rayman
Sacristy Laundry This Week: Cyndi Beckingham
Collection Counters for Next Week: James &
Cyrene Brozovich, Jeanette Nansel, Helen Risley
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Sunday, November 25
Islam 8:30am
Baptism 12:45pm
CL School of Community 3:30pm
Music Rehearsal 3:30pm
Men’s Basketball 6:30pm
Monday, November 26
ENDOW 9:00am
Cenacle Prayer Group 1:00pm
Counseling 4:00pm
Tuesday, November 27
ENDOW 8:30am
Mary Jane's Bible Study 1:00pm
Religious Education 4:30pm
EPIC 6:30pm
Religious Education 6:30pm
3rd Year Biblical School 7:00pm
Canticle 7:00pm
Wednesday, November 28
St. Joseph's Men's Group 5:30am
ENDOW 8:00am
Religious Education 4:30pm
Children's Choir 5:30pm
Religious Education 6:30pm
High School RE 6:30pm
Venturers of the Star 6:30pm
RCIA 6:30pm
Choir Rehearsal 7:30pm
Thursday, November 29
Mary Jane's Bible Study 8:00am
ENDOW 10:00am
Adoration 12:00pm
Holy Hour 5:00pm; Benediction 5:45pm
1st Year Biblical School 7:00pm
Centering Prayer 7:00pm
Friday, November 30
Living Waters Prayer Gathering 7:00pm
Saturday, December 1
MASH 6:45pm
Cenacle Prayer Group MMP 8:30am
Sunday, December 2
Islam 8:30am
RCIC 11:30am
Baptism 12:45pm
CL School of Community 3:30pm
Music Rehearsal 3:30pm
High School Youth 6:00pm
Men’s Basketball 6:30pm

FROM THE DESK
OF OUR PASTOR
FROM THE HOMILY OF POPE BENEDICT XVI
St Peter's Basilica
Solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe
Sunday, 25 November 2007
Cristo Crucificado by Diego Velázquez
We must begin from the central event: the Cross. Here
Christ manifests his unique Kingship. On Calvary two
opposite attitudes confront each other. Some figures at the
foot of the Cross as well as one of the two thieves address
the Crucified One contemptuously: If you are the Christ, the
Messiah King, they say, save yourself by coming down from the
cross. Jesus reveals instead his own glory by remaining there on
the Cross as the immolated Lamb. The other thief unexpectedly
sides with him, and he implicitly confesses the royalty of the
innocent, just One and implores: "Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingly power" (Lk 23: 42). St Cyril of Alexandria
comments: "You see him crucified and you call him King. You
believe that he who bears scoffing and suffering will reach divine
glory" (Comment on Luke, Homily 153). According to the
Evangelist John, the divine glory is already present, although
hidden by the disfiguration of the Cross. But also in the language
of Luke, the future is anticipated in the present when Jesus
promises the good thief: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be
with me in Paradise" (Lk 23: 43). St. Ambrose observes: "He
prayed that the Lord would remember him when he reached his
Kingdom, but the Lord responded: Truly, I say to you, today you
will be with me in Paradise. Life is being with Christ, because
where Christ is, there is his Kingdom" (Exposition of the Gospel
according to Luke, 10, 121). The accusation: "This is the King
of the Jews", written on a tablet nailed above Jesus' head thus
becomes the proclamation of the truth. St. Ambrose further
notes: "The writing is correctly placed above the Cross, because
even though the Lord Jesus was on the Cross, yet his royal
majesty shone from the height of the Cross" (ibid., 10, 113).

UPCOMING EVENTS
& ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sacrament of Penance Schedule: Advent
Saturdays 8:30am & 3:00pm
Sundays 30 minutes prior to each Mass
Thursdays during holy hour 5:00-6:00pm
December 6: 5:00-6:00pm & 7:00-8:30pm
December 13: 5:00-6:00pm & 7:00-8:30pm
December 20: 5:00-6:00pm & 7:00-8:30pm
IMPORTANT DATES - MIDDLE SCHOOL
- NO Venturers of the Star on the following dates:
- December 26
- January 2
- Caroling hosted by the high school youth:
December 16
following the 5:00pm Mass
- Faith Festival:
December 18 & 19, Advent Social on the 19th
- Middle School Lock-In:
January 20-21
- Mountain Madness:
February 15-17, 2013
Registration deadline: December 7
REMINDER:
The Martin family will be working in Africa with Lay Mission-
Helpers (www.laymissionhelpers.org). If you would like
to support this work and say goodbye, Friday, November 30th
from 7:00pm to 11:00pm there will be a dance at the Knights of
Columbus Hall at 1555 Grant St. Denver, 80203. Proceeds from
the dance and the silent auction will go towards their mission.
Please contact Maura at 303-669-5319 with any questions.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
IMPORTANT DATES - HIGH SCHOOL
- NO High School Youth with Fr. Michael on
the following dates:
- November 25
- December 23
- December 30
- Caroling hosted by the high school youth:
December 16
following the 5:00pm Mass
- Faith Festival:
December 18 & 19, Advent Social on the 19th
- High School Religious Education:
November 28 - James Fernandez
December 12 - Britney Lane
VENTURERS OF THE STAR
Fr. Accu is leading a middle school group on
Wednesdays from 6:30-8:00pm in the Frassati House.
All middle school students are welcome to join us
as we sing songs, play games, and encounter Christ!
However, please note the holiday cancellations above.
FR. MICHAEL'S HIGH SCHOOL GROUP
Fr. Michael is leading a high school group on Sundays
immediately following the 5:00pm Mass in Weibel
Hall. Pick up will be at 8:00pm at the Frassati House.
The group will include food, games, and discussion.
However, please note the holiday cancellations above.
MOUNTAIN MADNESS
Mountain Madness, a retreat for middle school students, will be February 15-17, 2013. Complete registration
(found on our website: www.nool.us) for this retreat is due NO LATER THAN December 7, 2012.

IMPORTANT CONFIRMATION INFORMATION!!
CONFIRMATION AUDIT:
We will be sending an audit between
December 15 and January 15 to all
people signed up for Confirmation,
which will let you know what paperwork
you have in and what paperwork
you still need to submit.
REMINDER:
The majority of you are signed up for
the WRONG FLOCKNOTE GROUP. If
you are not signed up for
CONFIRMATION CLASS OF 2013,
you will not know what is going on
with regards to Confirmation!
INSIDE ISLAM: A GUIDE FOR CATHOLICS
Come join us for a four-part presentation on Islam for
Catholics by John Lay with reflection and discussion of
the 100 questions from the book Inside Islam: a Guide for
Catholics by Daniel Ali and Robert Spencer.
When: Sundays 8:30am to 10:00am
Where: Dresen Hall at Nativity; except Session 3,
which will be held in Weibel II
After Mass just grab your coffee & donut & join us!
Session 1: questions 1–25, November 25, 2012
Session 2: question 26–50, December 2, 2012
Session 3: questions 51–75, December 9, 2012
Session 4: questions 76–100, December 16, 2012
Don't forget to visit our website:
www.nool.us!
A PRECIOUS CHILD
A Precious Child assists children in the metro
Denver area during times of poverty and misfortune
by discretely and compassionately providing life's
most basic essentials. They provide clothing, shoes,
school supplies, sports equipment, books, toiletires
and other essentials that have an impact on a child's
self confidence and academic success. They are
located right here in Broomfield! If you would
like to volunteer, please visit their website at www.
apreciouschild.org or stop by at 557 Burbank St.
Unit E, Broomfield. In addition, we have a donation
bin downstairs by the parish office. They are currently
in need of children's pants, sizes 3T-16.`
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
RCIA: NEXT SESSION
Wednesday, November 28, 6:30-8:30pm, Weibel II
Scripture: Christ the King
Topic: Mass--we will view & discuss the Lamb’s Supper
If you are interested in gaining more knowledge of
and being formed more fully in your faith, RCIA is the
place to come. If you have been baptized but have not
made your First Eucharist or Confirmation, RCIA is
a good place to begin. For more information contact
Deacon Dick at ext 106.
FIRST FRIDAY WITH FATHER - CANCELLED
Because the priests will be out of town for the
beginning of December, there will be NO First Friday
with Father on December 7.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
CATHOLIC WORKER SOUP KITCHEN
Nativity's days to assist at the soup kitchen are the 2nd
and 5th Wed. of every month. We leave the parish at
1:50pm, but some people meet us there at 2:35pm.
Serving time is from 2:45-4:30pm. Clean up time is
4:30-5:00pm.
Dates: 2012: Dec 12; 2013: Jan 9 & 30, Feb 13,
March 13, Apr 10, May 8 & 29
Contact: Margaret Hayes 303-257-8771
PRODUCTS OF THE MONTH:
shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste

GOBBLE! GOBBLE! GOBBLE!
Dear friends, once again we hope to hear the sound
of turkeys making their way to our delivery door
on the north side of Samaritan House (located at
2301 Lawrence St. in Denver). Last year we were
blessed with so many turkeys that we had enough for
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and almost every Sunday of
the year. Thank you so much for your kindness and
generosity during these difficult times. Hopefully, you
can help us once again for the holidays and 2013.
SPECIAL COLLECTION
Next week the Archdiocese has scheduled a special
collection for retired and infirm priests. We will
contribute $2,000 from parish tithing. If you wish to
make a further contribution, please put your offering
in a white envelope and mark it for this collection.
MUSIC MINISTERS OF NATIVITY
To any and all who would like to sing for our
Christmas Vigil (Midnight) Mass this year, we will be
preparing, in addition to the music for the Mass itself,
30-40 minutes of choral prelude music--mostly familiar
Christmas carols, hymns and songs but also some less
familiar pieces. We'll be doing a range of repertoire,
from medieval and renaissance works to 21st century.
Rehearsal Scedule:
Wed Nov 28, 7:45-9:00pm
Wed Dec 5, 7:45-9:00pm
Wed Dec 12, 7:45-9:00pm
Wed Dec 19, 7:45-9:00pm
*Sat, Dec 22 - early afternoon rehearsal, if necessary*
Mon, Dec 24, call 10:30pm, prelude music 11:15pm,
Mass, 12:00am
Please invite those who you think might enjoy singing
for this special Mass to join us.
HOLIDAY GIVING TREE
The Holiday Giving Tree Program, sponsored by the Nativity Women’s Guild, is back for
another holiday season. For those of you who are new to the parish, the Holiday Giving Tree
Program is a way of providing a holiday gift to the less fortunate in our community.
If you wish to participate, please select your Giving Tree tags from the tree and pay particular
attention to the label on the back of the card which describes the gift recipient and gift ideas. Make your
purchase and refer to the tag to determine if you will need to wrap your gift. Securely attach the tag to
your gift.
If your gift is wrapped, it is very important that we know the contents of the package (ex. men’s XL flannel
shirt, newborn size diapers, age 3-5 girl’s toy, etc). Write your gift description in the area provided on the back
of the tag. This allows us to meet a family’s or individual’s specific needs without having to unwrap the gift.
Gift cards are also appreciated and many different kinds are available through your local grocery stores. If you
purchase a gift card, attach the tag to the gift card and place it in the Holiday Safe Keeping box next to the tree.
Gifts should be placed under the giving tree no later than the 11:30am Mass on Sunday, December 9 in order to
facilitate the sorting and distribution of the gifts prior to the holidays.
This year we will be helping to provide gifts for a number of Nativity sponsored families as well as for children
through Broomfield FISH, Precious Child, and Imagine. We will also be collecting gifts for moms and their
babies through the Real Choices Pregnancy Care Center and gifts for seniors who are Broomfield Skilled
Nursing Home residents.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and support of this very worthwhile project sponsored by the Nativity
Women’s Guild. If you have questions, please call Connie Kobza 303-466-6674 or email your questions to
nativitygivingtree@comcast.net.

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
The Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast will be held after the 7:30 and 9:30am Masses on Sunday,
December 9. Everyone is welcome. The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, coffee,
milk and juice. The recommended donation is $5 for adults, $2 for children under 12, or $12 per family.
Children under 5 are free. For more information on the Knights call Dennis Eichner at 303-466-1337, Leo
Albiniak at 720-420-0623 or Phil Georgen at 303-469-8156. Our website is www.kofc10961.com.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
WWW.NOOL.US
SIGN UP FOR
FLOCKNOTE
FLOCKNOTE
IS HOW WE COMMUNICATE
WITH YOU. SIGN UP TO STAY
TUNED IN AT THE PARISH.
PROJECT RACHEL POST ABORTION
HEALING HOTLINE: 303-388-4491 ext. 153 Open
24 hours to women and men.
PRAYERLINE: Call John & Jeanne Hoiland with any
prayer requests. 303-466-6355
COUNSELING SERVICES
Becky Kusick, M.A., L.P.C., offers counseling services
through Nativity. Becky has a Master’s Degree in
Clinical Psychology and is a licensed Professional
Counselor. She has worked in the field for over 20
years. Becky works with couples, children, and adults.
For more information or for an appointment,
call 303-907 6499.
Online Giving
HEALING OPPORTUNITIES
WHY ARE BAD THINGS HAPPENING TO ME
A Stephen Minister can help you realize that God
always cares. A Stephen Minister is a trained
volunteer ready to listen in a non-judgmental way
while maintaining strict confidentiality. Through a
one-on-one caring relationship, those who are hurting
receive the love and care they need to support them
through difficult times. If you are going through hard
times due to the loss of a loved one, unemployment,
depression, addiction, divorce, financial burdens, or
any other reason, call today and ask for a Stephen
Minister who will suport you as you work through
your problem. Please call 303-469-5171, ext. 113
and leave a confidential message. Your call will
be returned within 48 hours.
Nativity participates in an online giving program that serves as a consistent, reliable means of making your offering to our parish.
To give online:
1. Visit our website at www.nool.us.
2. Click on the Online Giving button on the right sidebar.
3. Complete the registration.
Questions:
Contact Kyle Hubbart at k.hubbart@nool.us.
When you participate in online
giving, your gift will conveniently be
transferred from your bank account
or credit card directly to our parish.
Among its many benefits, our online
giving program allows you to
provide consistent support without
having to remember your envelopes
and to contribute even when you’re
out of town.

HOLY FATHER’S
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Last Wednesday we reflected on the desire for God that
the human being carries deeply within himself. Today I
would like to continue and deepen this aspect meditating
briefly on some paths to knowing God, remembering,
however, that God's initiative always precedes any action
of man, and even in the journey towards Him, it is He
who first enlightens us, guides us and leads us, always
respecting our freedom. And it is always He who allows
us enter into his intimacy, revealing and gifting Himself
us the grace to be able to welcome this revelation in faith.
Let us never forget the experience of St. Augustine: it is
not we who seek or possess the Truth, but the Truth that
seeks us out and posses us.
However, there are paths that can open the human heart
to knowledge of God', there are signs that lead to Him.
Of course, often we are in danger of being dazzled by
the glitter of worldliness, which make us less able to
travel these paths or to read those signs. However, God
does not tire to look for us, He is faithful to the humanity
He created and redeemed, He remains close to our
lives, because He loves us. And 'this a certainty that
must accompany us each and every day, even if certain
widespread mentalities make it increasingly difficult for
the Church and the Christian to communicate the joy of
the Gospel to all creatures and all lead to an encounter
with Jesus, the one Saviour of the world. This, however,
is our mission, the mission of the Church and every
believer must live it joyfully, feeling it to be his or her own,
through a life truly animated by faith, marked by charity,
service to God and to others, and capable of radiating
hope. This mission shines above all in the holiness to
which all are called.
Today difficulties and trials are not lacking for the faith,
often poorly understood, challenged, rejected. St. Peter
said to his Christians: "Always be ready to respond, but
with gentleness and respect, to anyone who asks you for
the hope that is in your hearts" (1 Pt 3:15). In the past, in
the West, in a society that is considered Christian, faith
was the environment in which we moved; the reference
POPE BENEDICT XVI
ST. PETER'S SQUARE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012
and adhesion to God were, for most people, part of
everyday life. Rather, it was those who do not believe that
had to justify their disbelief. In our world, the situation
has changed and, increasingly, the believer must be able
to account for the reasons of his faith. Blessed John Paul
II, in the Encyclical Fides et Ratio, emphasized how
faith is put to the test in these times, crossed by subtle
and insidious forms of theoretical and practical atheism
(cf. nn. 46-47). From the Enlightenment onwards, the
criticism of religion has intensified, history has also been
marked by the presence of atheistic systems, in which
God was considered a mere projection of the human
mind, an illusion, and the product of a society already
distorted by alienation. The last century has seen a strong
and growing secularism, in the name of the absolute
autonomy of man, considered as a measure and artifice
of reality, but depleted of his being created "in the image
and likeness of God." In our time there is a particularly
dangerous phenomenon for the faith: there is in fact a
form of atheism that we define, as 'practical', which does
not deny the truths of faith or religious rituals, but simply
considers them irrelevant to everyday existence, detached
from life, useless. Often, then, people believe in God in
a superficial way, but live "as if God did not exist" (etsi
Deus non daretur). In the end, however, this way of life
is even more destructive, because it leads to indifference
towards faith and the question of God
In reality, man is separated from God, is reduced
to a single dimension, the horizontal, and this very
reductionism is one of the fundamental causes of
totalitarianism that have had tragic consequences in the
last century, as well as the crisis of values ​that we see
in our current reality. By obscuring reference to God,
the ethical horizon is also obscured, to make room for
relativism and an ambiguous conception of freedom,
which instead of being liberating ends up binding man
to idols. The temptations Jesus faced in the desert prior
to his public ministry, represent well the "idols" that
fascinate man, when he does not look beyond himself.
When God loses centrality, man loses his proper place,
he no longer finds his place in creation, in relationships
with others. That ancient wisdom evoked in the myth of
Prometheus is still relevant: man thinks he can become

"god" himself, master of life and death.
Faced with this framework, the Church, faithful to Christ,
never ceases to affirm the truth about man and his
destiny. The Second Vatican Council succinctly states:
"The root reason for human dignity lies in man's call to
communion with God. From the very circumstance of his
origin man is already invited to converse with God. For
man would not exist were he not created by Gods love
and constantly preserved by it; and he cannot live fully
according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love
and devotes himself to His Creator. "(Gaudium et Spes,
19).
What answers, then is the faith called to give with
"gentleness and respect", to the atheism, skepticism and
indifference towards the vertical dimension, so that the
man of our time can continue to question himself about
the existence of God and continue to travel along the
paths that lead to Him I would like to mention some
ways, resulting both from natural reflection and the
power of faith. I would like to very briefly sum them up
in three words: the world, man, faith.
First: the world. St. Augustine, who in his life long sought
the Truth and was seized by the Truth, has a beautiful
and famous page, in which he affirms: " Question the
beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea,
question the beauty of the air distending and diffusing
itself, question the beauty of the sky… question all
these realities. All respond: "See, we are beautiful."
Their beauty is a profession. These beauties are subject
to change. Who made them if not the Beautiful One
who is not subject to change "(Sermo 241, 2: PL 38,
1134). I think we need to recover and restore to our
contemporaries the ability to contemplate creation, its
beauty, its structure. The world is not a shapeless magma,
but the more we know, the more we discover the amazing
mechanisms, the more we see a pattern, we see that
there is a creative intelligence. Albert Einstein said that
the laws of nature “reveal such a superior reason that all
rational thought and human law is but a very insignificant
reflection by comparison “(The World as I see it, Rome
2005). Thus a first path leading to the discovery of God is
careful contemplation of creation.
The second word: man. Again St. Augustine, has a
famous quote that says that God is closer to me than I
am to myself (cf. Confessions, III, 6, 11). From here he
formulates the invitation: "Do not go outside yourself,
come back into yourself: truth dwells in the heart of
man" (True Religion, 39, 72). This is another aspect
that we risk losing in the noisy and distracted world in
which we live: the ability to stop and take a deep look
within ourselves and read that thirst for the infinite that
we carry within, pushing us to go further and towards
that Someone who can satisfy it. The Catechism of the
Catholic Church states: "with his openness to truth and
beauty, his sense of moral goodness, his freedom and the
voice of his conscience, with his longings for the infinite
and for happiness, man questions himself about God's
existence"(n. 33).
The third word: faith. Especially in the reality of our
times, we must not forget that a path to knowledge and
encounter with God is the life of faith. He who believes
is united with God, is open to His grace, to the power
of charity. So his existence becomes a witness not of
himself, but of the Risen Christ, and his faith is not afraid
to show itself in everyday life, it is open to dialogue that
expresses deep friendship for the journey of every man,
and knows how to bring the light of hope to the need
for redemption, happiness, and future. Faith, in fact, is
an encounter with God who speaks and acts in history
and which converts our daily life, transforming our
mentality, system of values, choices and actions. It is not
illusion, escapism, a comfortable shelter, sentimentality,
but involvement in every aspect of life and proclamation
of the Gospel, the Good News which can liberate all
of man. A Christian, a community that is industrious
and faithful to the plan of God who loved us first, are
a privileged path for those who are indifferent or doubt
His existence and His action. This, however, requires
that each one of us render our witness of faith more
transparent, purifying our life to conform it to Christ.
Today many have a limited understanding of the
Christian faith, because they identify it with a mere
system of beliefs and values ​and not so much with the
truth of God revealed in history, eager to communicate
with man face to face, in a relationship of love with
Him. In fact, the foundation of every doctrine or value
is the event of the encounter between man and God in
Christ Jesus. Christianity, before being a moral or ethical
value, is the experience of love, of welcoming the person
of Jesus. For this reason, the Christian and Christian
communities must first look to and help others to look to
Christ, the true path that leads to God.