Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 279 - Part I.

YOUCAT Question n. 279 - Part I. Why do we need faith and the sacraments in order to live a good, upright life?

(Youcat answer) If we were to rely only on ourselves and our own strength, we would not get far in our attempts to be good. Through faith we discover that we are God’s children and that God makes us strong. When God gives us his strength, we call this “grace”. Especially in the sacred signs that we call the Sacraments, God gives us the ability actually to do the good that we want to do.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 1693) Christ Jesus always did what was pleasing to the Father (Cf. Jn 8:29),  and always lived in perfect communion with him. Likewise Christ's disciples are invited to live in the sight of the Father "who sees in secret" (Mt 6:6) in order to become "perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt 5:48). (CCC 1691) "Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God's own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God"  (St. Leo the Great, Sermo 21 in nat. Dom., 3: PL 54, 192C). 

 Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Since God saw our misery, he “delivered us from the dominion of darkness” (Col 1:13) through his Son, Jesus Christ. He granted us the opportunity to make a new start in fellowship with him and to walk the path of love.

(CCC Comment) (CCC 1692) The Symbol of the faith confesses the greatness of God's gifts to man in his work of creation, and even more in redemption and sanctification. What faith confesses, the sacraments communicate: by the sacraments of rebirth, Christians have become "children of God" (Jn 1:12; 1 Jn 3:1). "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Pet 1:4). Coming to see in the faith their new dignity, Christians are called to lead henceforth a life "worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Phil 1:27). They are made capable of doing so by the grace of Christ and the gifts of his Spirit, which they receive through the sacraments and through prayer.

(This question: Why do we need faith and the sacraments in order to live a good, upright life? is continued)