WE should always feel the need to sustain and ever strengthen our
faith which is the bedrock of our Christian life. Without it or with a
weak faith, we most likely will compromise our entire life.
Faith, as taught by our Catechism, “is the theological virtue by
which we believe in God and believe in all that he has said and
revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because
he is truth itself. By faith 'man freely commits his entire self to
God.' For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God's will.
'The righteous shall live by faith.' Living faith 'works through
charity.'” (CCC 1814)
It's good that we go through this point slowly if only to draw
some practical implications to act on. That God is the truth itself
can only tell us that we have to do everything to know and love him,
since that would be the only way to be in the truth ourselves all the
time.
The task of knowing and loving him may be tremendous and
overwhelming, but it will all be worthwhile. Yes, there will be
mysteries involved that surpass the capabilities of our senses and
intelligence.
But with God's grace, we can entrust ourselves to what is taught
to us with authority by the Church, and learn to live with the
mysteries of life, complete with their complement of suspense, thrill,
highs and lows. We just have to be game in all this.
We have to be wary of our tendency to be mainly reliant on our
senses and intelligence. While always useful, they cannot fully cope
with the demands of faith. Remember that episode of the apostle Thomas
after the resurrection of Christ.
When Christ first appeared to his apostles, Thomas was not around.
When the others told him of Christ's appearance, Thomas did not
believe what they said. “Unless I see in his hand the print of the
nails,” he said, “and put my finger into the place of the nails, and
put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (Jn 20,24-25)
The next time Christ appeared to them, Thomas was already present.
So Christ told him, “Thomas, put your finger here, and see my hands,
and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not be faithless,
but believing.” To which, Thomas could only say, “My Lord and my God.”
So Christ clearly told him, “Have you believed because you have seen
me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (Jn 20,27ff)
We have to remember that in developing and strengthening our
faith, we need to commit our whole selves to God. We should not just
be sentimental, emotional or intellectual about it. We have to give
our whole selves in good times and bad, 24/7. We have to involve all
our powers and faculties, our past, present and future.
Faith is not simply an intellectual assent to some truths. It is
an act of our entire being wherein we integrally and entirely commit
ourselves. If we truly have faith, we will show it in every action of
our life.
We will consistently refer everything to Christ, look for him,
find and talk to him, seek his guidance, follow his will and ways, and
put him as the goal of all of our activities. This has to be
distinguished from fanaticism, because faith requires a living union
with God, while fanaticism can mimic the appearance of faith, but is
not based on that living union, but rather on something else.
If we truly have faith, we will always make Christ present
wherever we are. Irrespective of our human condition, we can always
exude a certain aura of wisdom, goodness, charity and kindness, mercy
and justice, and power, etc.
Faith is something much deeper and more complete than a simple
affirmation of some truths. It produces an effective and operative
presence of the love of Christ among men. It makes us plant the seed
of love in each heart. It leads us to discover all the good things in
the world where God himself has placed us so that we may be holy. It
also points us where the dangers are.
Let's strengthen our faith always by spending some moments
everyday in mental prayer, living always in the presence of God,
waging continuing ascetical struggle to develop virtues and fight
against our weaknesses and temptations, studying and assimilating the
doctrine of our faith, pursuing a lifelong plan of formation, etc.
faith which is the bedrock of our Christian life. Without it or with a
weak faith, we most likely will compromise our entire life.
Faith, as taught by our Catechism, “is the theological virtue by
which we believe in God and believe in all that he has said and
revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because
he is truth itself. By faith 'man freely commits his entire self to
God.' For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God's will.
'The righteous shall live by faith.' Living faith 'works through
charity.'” (CCC 1814)
It's good that we go through this point slowly if only to draw
some practical implications to act on. That God is the truth itself
can only tell us that we have to do everything to know and love him,
since that would be the only way to be in the truth ourselves all the
time.
The task of knowing and loving him may be tremendous and
overwhelming, but it will all be worthwhile. Yes, there will be
mysteries involved that surpass the capabilities of our senses and
intelligence.
But with God's grace, we can entrust ourselves to what is taught
to us with authority by the Church, and learn to live with the
mysteries of life, complete with their complement of suspense, thrill,
highs and lows. We just have to be game in all this.
We have to be wary of our tendency to be mainly reliant on our
senses and intelligence. While always useful, they cannot fully cope
with the demands of faith. Remember that episode of the apostle Thomas
after the resurrection of Christ.
When Christ first appeared to his apostles, Thomas was not around.
When the others told him of Christ's appearance, Thomas did not
believe what they said. “Unless I see in his hand the print of the
nails,” he said, “and put my finger into the place of the nails, and
put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (Jn 20,24-25)
The next time Christ appeared to them, Thomas was already present.
So Christ told him, “Thomas, put your finger here, and see my hands,
and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not be faithless,
but believing.” To which, Thomas could only say, “My Lord and my God.”
So Christ clearly told him, “Have you believed because you have seen
me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (Jn 20,27ff)
We have to remember that in developing and strengthening our
faith, we need to commit our whole selves to God. We should not just
be sentimental, emotional or intellectual about it. We have to give
our whole selves in good times and bad, 24/7. We have to involve all
our powers and faculties, our past, present and future.
Faith is not simply an intellectual assent to some truths. It is
an act of our entire being wherein we integrally and entirely commit
ourselves. If we truly have faith, we will show it in every action of
our life.
We will consistently refer everything to Christ, look for him,
find and talk to him, seek his guidance, follow his will and ways, and
put him as the goal of all of our activities. This has to be
distinguished from fanaticism, because faith requires a living union
with God, while fanaticism can mimic the appearance of faith, but is
not based on that living union, but rather on something else.
If we truly have faith, we will always make Christ present
wherever we are. Irrespective of our human condition, we can always
exude a certain aura of wisdom, goodness, charity and kindness, mercy
and justice, and power, etc.
Faith is something much deeper and more complete than a simple
affirmation of some truths. It produces an effective and operative
presence of the love of Christ among men. It makes us plant the seed
of love in each heart. It leads us to discover all the good things in
the world where God himself has placed us so that we may be holy. It
also points us where the dangers are.
Let's strengthen our faith always by spending some moments
everyday in mental prayer, living always in the presence of God,
waging continuing ascetical struggle to develop virtues and fight
against our weaknesses and temptations, studying and assimilating the
doctrine of our faith, pursuing a lifelong plan of formation, etc.
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