{"id":28317,"date":"2023-06-23T15:26:14","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T19:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/?p=28317"},"modified":"2023-06-23T15:27:11","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T19:27:11","slug":"o-tidings-of-wonder-and-joy-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holytrinityweb.com\/weekly\/o-tidings-of-wonder-and-joy-4\/","title":{"rendered":"O Tidings of Wonder and Joy\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(please enjoy this previously published article by Father Tim)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Faith, of course, is the principle means through which we come to know God and enter into a relationship with Him. And this faith bases itself on the Word of God given to us in sacred scripture. This word is spoken by God \u201cwho can neither deceive nor be deceived.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Jesus (the Word made Flesh) says, \u201cI am the Way, the Truth, and the Life\u201d, or, \u201cI am the Resurrection and the life\u201d, or, \u201cI am the Good Shepherd leading my sheep into eternal life.\u201d And in response Peter said, \u201cOh Lord, you alone have the words of eternal life.\u201d So Faith opens the door to heaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there is something else that can happen. Sometimes before faith happens, one can have an experience that leads them to believe in God. OR, sometimes this experi\u0016ence can follow faith and help it to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is this experience? Wonder. Children have it all the time. Hopefully, you\u2019ve had it too. It starts with a simple observation of life around us and leads to a \u201cmoment\u201d where we experience the sheer beauty or power or mys\u0016tery contained in what we are observing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n