An Epiphany on Being a Convert

This year’s Epiphany celebration got me to thinking about the word epiphany, with both a small ‘e’ and a capital ‘E.’

The secular definition of epiphany is a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, or suddenly become conscious of, something that is very important to you.

For Christians, the Epiphany is the revealing of Jesus Christ to the world. It primarily celebrates the coming of the Magi. It reflects the physical manifestation of Christ’s incarnation to gentiles as well as the Jewish people.

However, upon further study I found that the Epiphany can also refer to Christ’s baptism in the Jordan as his manifestation as the Son of God. Another reference is to the wedding at Cana as his first manifestation of his public ministry.

The above demonstrates that the concept of Epiphany can have many implications as we pursue our faith journey. And that has certainly been the case for me.

A journey of epiphanies

One’s faith journey is really about many epiphanies as we seek to understand God and our relationship to him.

My faith journey was one of being nothing, to being a Lutheran, to being nothing again, to being a Catholic. I often describe myself as a convert, especially when asked if I am a “cradle Catholic” or convert.  A major epiphany that occurred to me during this year’s Epiphany celebration was, what am I really a convert to?

For years, including in the RCIA/OCIA classes I taught, I would state that I am a convert to the Catholic Church – just like the folks in the class. However, on this Epiphany when I reflected on Bible and Catechism studies, and on Jesus as man and God, an epiphany emerges that I am really a convert to Jesus Christ.

So, where does that leave the Church in the scheme of things?

What we need for the faith journey to conversion

When exploring faith I like to use analogies. In that context, one way of viewing the Catholic Church is that it serves as the vehicle for the faith journey. It is a vehicle that has its GPS oriented toward the most authentic and authoritative “route” to Jesus Christ.

Using the vehicle analogy, the Church buildings are the garages for the vehicle where the liturgies and sacraments (instead of mechanical fixes, lubrications, etc.) provide us with fuel to use on the faith journey.

It’s the vehicle we ride in for our faith journey of transformation. But if we are truly converts to Jesus Christ, it is a process of transformation. In this sense, the Church also serves as a trainer and guide for the journey.

I view the Catholic faith as preparing us for a life of communion with God.

It provides us with a path to follow which is difficult to undertake by ourselves. The Church helps by answering many questions that need answering for that faith journey.

The Church provides instruction and direction to answer the question “what should we believe?” Only the Catholic Church has the authority (from Jesus to the Apostles to their successors), with proven authenticity (through Holy Tradition and Sacred Scripture), to address those questions we may have about God.

I have found in my RCIA/OCIA classes that when the need for Jesus and the need for a vehicle (Church) that can aid one to get to and experience Him come together, “light bulbs go on.” The elements of our faith all fall into place in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

The Church also provides principles and moral guidelines, based on what Jesus Christ taught about how to live, that answer the question “How should we to act?” In this day of cultural relativism having a moral compass is indispensable.

I believe that part of the faith journey is seeking ways to have sense of the holy to answer the question “How can we experience God?” The Catholic Church uniquely provides sacraments that provide this experience.  This is especially the case for the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our faith. His true presence at every mass is a blessing we can get at no other place (the exception being the Orthodox divine liturgy).

A final role for the Church vehicle

It’s tough to be transformed to try to be like Christ in today’s secular culture because it  often attacks religion and faith, especially the Catholic faith. The Church provides a support system for our efforts with a faith community that helps us in numerous ways.

In the context of the vehicle analogy, the Church provides us with an armored vehicle. It is a fortified, safe haven from all negatives that we may face in the world. The Church “vehicle” offers hope that will reach the final destination.

Jesus’s final words in Matthew’s gospel (28:20) are, “…I am with you always, to the close of the age.” In the context of the Church as our faith vehicle – Jesus is the driver.