Creed: We believe . . .
Friday, January 3, 2025
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gives to me twelve drummers drumming.
These twelve drummers lords represent the twelve beliefs held in the Apostles Creed.
When the circumstances of life challenge us, we take our burdens to the LORD . . .
We believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
When life confuses us about how we are to behave and where we are to go, we take our worries to Christ . . .
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord.
When life presents impossible obstacles that seem insurmountable, we remember that with God all things are possible . . .
We believe that Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the Virgin Mary.
When life’s pain seems to have no purpose, we remember that Christ offers salvific suffering for us each day . . .
We believe that Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
When horrible events destroy innocent people, we remind one another that Christ overcomes all evil and brings goodness out of harm . . .
We believe that Jesus descended into hell and on the third day rose again from the dead.
When dictators and oligarchs wipe out cultures and truths, we remind ourselves that God’s kingdom is the only kingdom that lasts forever . . .
We believe that Jesus ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God.
When corruption thwarts justice and exploits the marginalized, we remember that there is only one judgment that lasts forever . . .
We believe that Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.
When we are abandoned, alone, or rejected, we remember that we are all on in the Spirit . . .
We believe in the Holy Spirit.
When the structures we design to protect us become tools of subjugation, we recall that the Spirit lives in our ancestors who go before us, and in our children’s children who follow . . .
We believe in the holy catholic Church and the Communion of Saints.
When we are beleaguered, overwhelmed or undone, we recall that God’s goodness overpowers any errors we commit . . .
We believe in the forgiveness of sins.
When we are unloved, unwanted or numbed by tragedy, we remember that Christ brings us home to new life in The Way . . .
We believe in the resurrection of the body.
When we are duped or deceived by life on earth, and when we lose all hope, we remember that God is with us always, loving us into eternal goodness . . .
We believe in life everlasting.
This is what we believe, this is what we share, this is what we know.
Amen.
For information about where the Creed is found in Scripture, visit: http://www.acatholic.org/about-the-catholic-faith/catholic-the-apostles-creed/
For information about the split between Western and Eastern creeds, visit: http://orthochristian.com/90157.html
For more in-depth interpretations of The Apostles’ Creed, visit these sites.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Apostles-Creed
https://blog.faithlife.com/blog/2015/04/the-apostles-creed-its-history-and-origins/
http://www.dummies.com/religion/christianity/catholicism/the-twelve-articles-of-catholic-faith/
Images from: https://oca.org/saints/all-lives/2015/06/02 and https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6192518217108860/ and https://www.pinterest.com/pin/219972763021928017/
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