Why do we believe? Why do we “accept something as true” without seeing? Why do we accept that God sent us a Savior? On the third Sunday of Advent, the Gospel tells us of John the Baptist sending his followers to ask Jesus if He is the one to come. Jesus did not give them a simple yes or no. Instead, He told them to look at what they see and hear. They came to believe that Jesus was the one sent to open a door once closed. 

Advent is the time set aside to prepare for His coming, to clear our minds and to reflect on our failures and successes. It is a joyous time, but it is also a time to reflect on what we believe. To spend time in adoration of the birth of the one who changed everything. Our modern world is designed to distract us from the true meaning of Advent. Christmas lights, detailed holiday displays, special sales, last-minute shopping, and holiday parties obscure the time we should be dedicating to preparation. We may become consumed by “stuff” and forget that Christ was born to set us free.

Recently, I was having dinner with someone I love deeply, an atheist, and ironically in the City of Angels. Our conversation turned to the history of my family at the end of World War II. We spoke about the persecution they faced under communism and how several family members were killed because they refused to renounce their Catholic faith. As we spoke, I related an eyewitness account of their final moments and how they prayed for God’s mercy. As we spoke, the conversation focused on faith, and my beloved aunt did not believe that those men were welcomed into anything beyond death. To her, there is no God, and paradise is a myth. 

My son asked why I was so firm in my disagreement. I reflected on his question, understanding both his curiosity and desire to defend his great aunt’s position. As I considered how to respond, I realized the answer was simple: I believe.

I told them that I cannot accept that these faithful men, killed by an ideology without faith, died for nothing. They walked into the darkness accepting their earthly fate because they believed in a merciful God. Each of them died knowing Christ and prayed because faith is the guiding light for those who believe. I know this is a bit strange for a Christmas message, but it is exactly why it is appropriate. Every day, I witness the miracle of faith—in the people I meet, in families grieving the loss of someone they love, and in the hope that sustains them. I see it in kindness, in compassion, and in the quiet trust that the promise of eternal life is real. Belief gives hope, and hope never dies.

Christ, the King of Kings, born in a place carved from stone and meant for livestock, lived a brief time and changed the world. Despite all that He suffered, Jesus remained steadfast in His message of love and willingly carried the burden of our original sin. Christ gave us love, forgiveness, peace, and faith in a good and merciful God. Despite all the miracles we see every day, we still forget that Advent is for us to prepare for His arrival, not last-minute shopping.  

We believe because not believing simply does not make sense.

God Bless each of you as we prepare for the coming of the Savior.

Andrej N. Lah