Embracing Doubts to Grow in Faith

Written by Sarah Puchala on Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Growing up I attended Catholic schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade. It seemed like the whole world was Catholic.   At least, my whole world was Catholic. Everyone believed that Jesus was the Son of God. Then I went to college. I knew people practiced other faiths but I thought it was a small minority. This misconception changed very quickly. My friends in college were all types of believers including Jewish, Hindu, agnostic, atheist, and non-practicing Catholics. This is when I started to question my Catholic beliefs, my foundation. Why is Jesus so special to me?

Sometimes it is easy to question if Jesus is the Son of God when those around you do not believe in Him. In today’s Gospel, a man asks Jesus to cure his ill son. Jesus replies, “unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe!” We do not know everything and it is easy to have doubts about who Jesus is.  Learning about my friend’s beliefs and religions has helped me delve deeper into our Catholic faith. It has helped me to realize how special the meaning of Easter really is. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross because he loves us. Every one of us. Simply because. Jesus was truly radical!  Jesus shows us that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Questions for Reflection:
How have you learned about your faith from those around you?
How can you love like Jesus loves?
How can you love those in your life who are hard to love?

Sarah Puchala
Sarah graduated with a B.S. and M.S. in Human Nutrition from the Ohio State University. She is currently a Dietetic Intern at the University of Michigan Hospital System.  She is a catechist in St. Mary’s Family Faith Formation and happy to call St. Mary Student Parish home. 
Email: spuchala@med.umich.edu