What is theology and who are called to be theologians?
Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday in ordinary time, and the end of this liturgical year. Next Sunday begins a new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent. Many themes surface during these Sundays, but the end times and the Lord’s return dominate both the end and the beginning of every liturgical year.
Reflecting on the meaning and purpose of our lives in light of Christ’s second coming has been the perennial task of the followers of Jesus since Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to his Father. Theology helps clarify some of the mystery of the end times, offering a way to think about this central belief and its impact on our faith lives.
Theology is best understood as “faith seeking understanding.” We usually associate theology with scholars who have advanced degrees. While this is partly true, it does an injustice to theology. While we will never exhaust the mystery that is our faith, we are all called to the task of making sense of our faith. In doing so we are all called to be theologians. Our baptismal commitment plunges us into a relationship to God through Jesus and the Spirit that continually challenges us to broaden and deepen our understanding of ourselves and our God.
©2009 Liturgical Publications Inc, New Berlin, WI 53151
Used with permission
