The Four R’s of Faith

In the early 19th century, someone came up with the 3 Rs. The expression was used to describe the three basic skills taught in school: Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. (Yes, they took a little literary license to come up with the phrase but people seemed to get the message.) No matter the spelling, it seemed to me a great way to encapsulate some essentials needed to navigate life, and in fact, a good foundation upon which to add other subjects. It caused me to wonder whether there might be a way to articulate something similar for our Christian Faith life. So allow me to offer the Four Rs of Faith: Respect, Reflection, Reverence and Religion.

Respect: The great theologian, St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), said it’s a sin to withhold a compliment. It’s a sin, not just because it deprives the other person of something, but also because it hardens our hearts, and impedes us being who we are fully meant to be. Something similar could be said for respect. When we are respectful, whether it’s addressing someone by a title they’ve earned (a doctor or priest for example), or lowering our voice in an area that might interfere with someone else’s enjoyment or peace (a restaurant or perhaps a hospital), it involves a little discipline; a modicum of humility; being mindful of what’s appropriate. These small acts, which at their core are acts of love, practiced diligently over time will not only become easier, but help us become better people and also provide an example to others.

Reflection: It’s not news that there’s a lot of suffering in the world. For example, over 50 countries are involved in some form of armed conflict; 11 million children live in poverty in the US; there are an estimated 43 million refugees globally and unfortunately I could go on. What can you do about it you might ask? In the parables of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18) or the famous story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), Jesus essentially tells us we cannot fully rest as long as we have “lost” or marginalized sisters and brothers. That all people need a place at the table of our human family. So in addition to our good works and financial contributions (very important!) perhaps we could take some time on a regular basis, doesn’t have to be much, perhaps 5-10 minutes, to sit in silent reflection as a way of communing with those in need, giving them a place at our virtual table. You don’t need to worry about whether it’s working or not, God will see to that.

Reverence: If you’re anything like me, we tend to think about reverence mainly when in church. We might also be moved with similar feelings for instance upon seeing a newborn, a dazzling sunrise or even visiting a great cathedral. However, as our senses tend to be saturated these days with stimuli, it’s become more rare and difficult for us to truly experience awe and reverence. So why is this a problem? When we are reverent, I suspect it’s the divine image and likeness of God within us, recognizing God’s “face” in His creation. Our challenge is to be reverent, not just when we experience physical beauty that moves our senses, but in our daily lives where we must continuously strive to see the divine in others, especially the poor, and in fact, in all things. 

Religion: Y’know, we’re pretty lucky as Christians to be called to a faith that Jesus, God’s Son, proclaimed as our path to salvation. Unfortunately, as Fr. Richard Rohr points out, too often our religion has been thought of as an escape plan from this life; that our faith was all about compliance versus love. Whereas when we really look at the Church’s teachings, as Jesus said, they are all about loving God and our neighbor. About how we create God’s kingdom here on earth, and how we experience joy in this life not just the hereafter. C. S. Lewis, the great writer said, “God’s compulsion is our liberation”. The church’s teaching can indeed help us to be truly free.

While the above might not be as straightforward as the 3 R’s, perhaps paying a little more attention to each of these areas might help us all in our earthly pilgrimage.