Why Do I Believe?

by Jessica Barajas

 

I had a Catholic upbringing

Met my husband through Catholic match

I watch Catholic YouTube channels

I go to Catholic Mass

 

Although this faith has become

A large part of my identity

It’s easy to forget

the why of my belief

 

My eyes glaze over in Mass

I go through prayer-less weeks

Habitual sins become routine

While my conscience nags at me

 

I fall prey to the plague of indifference

That holds our culture ransom

The one that says “this is all there is”

“enjoy it, live for fun”

 

So, from time to time,

I must stop and think

Why exactly is Catholicism

what I believe?

 

I am a girl who loves questions

And answers even more

Especially those given through logic

and evidence, and proof galore

 

I believe because I need answers

Based on more than myth or legend

Why am I here?  What’s it all for?

When I die, what will happen?

 

It’s illogical to claim

That the earth came out of nothing

The statistical odds of a life-giving planet

Demands the truth that there was something

 

A something with no start or end

With infinite creativity

Intelligent and powerful

That enabled our humanity

 

Such a thing no one could fathom

With a universe between

Unless it wished to visit

And reveal the mystery

 

Of all the world religions

It is only Christianity

That claims this something we call GOD

Came with answers from eternity

 

In person He arrived

By the name of Jesus Christ

Setting Calendars to zero

He lived no normal life

 

This man claimed he was Son of God

With power to forgive

He proved his words with miracles

And said through him we could live

 

His works were seen by thousands

blind men saw, dead men rose,

Dozens of prophecies fulfilled

These things could not have been a hoax

 

Jesus did and said so much

That has led me to believe

That the Catholic Church is Gods design

To bring us to eternity

 

Jesus said this is my body

He said this is my blood

For this it is the Eucharist

That best unites us with his love

 

The keys he gave to Peter

The first of many popes and priests

To him and his successors

He gave authority.

 

Who’s sins they forgive

Through the power of Christ

Jesus said they’d be forgiven

Thus confession must be right

 

This early church of Jesus

With Peter at the helm

Formed scripture and tradition

To guide us in this realm

 

God chose to give us answers

To those who care to ask

Through flesh and blood and history

He offers one true path

 

I choose to follow this one Man

And the Church he came to start

For His claims are backed by evidence

And His answers have claimed my heart

 

This belief was not just handed to me

I studied and I questioned

My conclusions are complexly informed

and here can’t all be mentioned

 

I just need sometimes

As many do

To remind myself

Of what is true