The narrative of faith

THE word, ‘narrative,’ today has acquired a bad

connotation because it now is made to refer to attempts to conform our

views according to a preconceived storyline that would already suggest

bias and prejudice. It’s like things are scripted and controlled, and

as a consequence objectivity is compromised.

            This is especially so in the area of public opinion where

different ideological and political groups defend their views

according to their ideological and political principles and doctrines.

            Those concerned simply have to stick to the narrative of

their ideology and politics. Thus, you can have the liberals and the

conservatives defending their views according to the narrative of

their ideological and political position.

            Of course, this is a very understandable phenomenon. One

sees and understands things according to how he is, conditioned as he

is by so many factors and elements. A gospel passage somehow says as

much. “The heart speaks out of the abundance of the heart.” (Mt 12,34)

            Unfortunately, the word, ‘narrative,’ with its negative

connotation is also applied by many people today to the Christian

faith. They say that because of some people’s faith, they cannot be

objective, and thus, cannot see the wisdom behind the things like

abortion, divorce, same-sex marriage, etc.

            This is, of course, a blatant misconception of faith,

regarding it as one more man-made ideology and political platform. To

be sure, all man-made ideologies and political platforms have many

things that can do good to all of us. But they cannot capture

everything that is proper to us. To be sure also, they cannot by

themselves bring us to our spiritual and supernatural goal.

            Yes, it can be said that the word, ‘narrative,’ can also

be applied to our Christian faith. But it is a narrative that should

not be understood the way we understand it with respect to our

ideologies and politics, etc.

            The narrative of faith does not control and script things

the way the narrative of the ideologies and politics does. It is not

something that is limited the way the latter are limited. It has

infinite ways of adapting itself to any situation we can find

ourselves in, so that it can help us to attain our ultimate end which

is not only natural but also supernatural.

            And what is the nature and purpose of our Christian faith?

As the Catechism teaches us, our faith is meant to bring us back to

where we came from, that is, to be with God for all eternity.

            “It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom,” says the

Catechism, “to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his

will. His will was that men should have access to the Father, through

Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit, and thus become

sharers in the divine nature.” (51)

            The Christian faith is revealed and taught to us in full

by Christ. It has been entrusted to the Church for its integral

transmission to the different generations until the end of time. Its

light is constant and always relevant

            But we have to understand the Christian faith is not so

much pure doctrine alone as a vital union with Christ. The doctrine

serves as a path to be with Christ, but it does not replace Christ. It

is not one more ideology whose light is not constant and not always

relevant.

            The narrative of faith is a living thing that knows how to

adjust and adapt to the different situations we can find ourselves in.

Being divine and redemptive in nature and purpose, it has infinite

possibilities of adapting to all our possible situations and

conditions and of giving us the means to attain our ultimate goal in

life.

            It does not get lost along the way, no matter how messy we

make our life here on earth. In good times and bad, it shows us the

way to attain our ultimate goal.