What is faith? What challenges your faith? When have questions or confusion about your faith led to personal growth?
A catechism I once read defined faith as “the virtue by which we firmly believe all the truths God has revealed, on the word of God revealing them.” But faith is more than that. Faith is also believing in God’s plan for our lives, every part of it. We must give our complete trust to Him, and being able to do that is having faith.
Living in a world of family, friends, and co-workers who do not share the same faith is always challenging. The greater challenges however come from those who have no real faith at all and as a result usually have no moral code by which to live. In today’s world your faith must be strong to stand up to those challenges the world presents.
My conversion to the Catholic Faith has been the greatest experience of personal growth I’ve ever known. The faith I have today has not always been as strong as it is now, and it didn’t come overnight either. I found the most difficult thing for me to have faith in was being worthy enough to receive God’s love. Once I overcame that dilemma the answers to my questions were easier to understand and much less confusing.
How would you answer these questions? What comes to mind when you think about faith, your faith, and how does it impact your life?
~Molly
Welcome Molly. I think of St. Augustine's experience "My heart is restless until it rests in Thee." that peace that comes with surrendering. That's what I think of, but then came a new kind of restlessness...a thirst to learn more about how He wants me to serve Him, worship Him. A thirst to seek the pillar and foundation of truth, His church. Thanks for asking great questions. God bless you Molly.
ReplyDeleteLove, Debbie
Your question also sets up a reason to point to the Pope's new ENCYCLICAL LETTER LUMEN FIDEI OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF FRANCIS.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I love the catechism definition of faith that you gave: “the virtue by which we firmly believe all the truths God has revealed, on the word of God revealing them.” I think this is jam packed with meaning! There's a few things that come to my mind.
ReplyDeleteFirst, faith is a virtue (a good habit). Habits take practice. It is a gift that we have been given that we have to develop and live even when it hurts. It definitely takes trust as you said. Sure, we all have fallen into sin; while we're down, we need to crawl to our knees in humility then get back up and try again, harder the next time, trusting in the grace of our Redeemer. We need to support each other when we are weak and when we are suffering and hope that God will make some good come from it. Pope Benedict XVI writes, “It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love.”
― Pope Benedict XVI, Saved in Hope: Spe Salvi
Living this Faith takes practice! Practice! Practice! But what a Hope we have! The saints were very good at practicing their Faith, developing the virtue (good habit). Their hope was realized in heaven.
Another thought comes to mind when I read the part of the definition "...believe all the truths..." is this: What I think it boils down to is do I really believe that Jesus is God? Did he really establish the Catholic Church? Did the Word really become Flesh? If so, then believing ALL of the Truths becomes simple. I may not understand them all but I accept them because of their Author. I would be rather pompous to say that I only accept part of them. After all, I am only Carol and I would be arguing with God.
...which brings me to the last part of the definition, "...on the word of God revealing them.” We treasure our Faith primarily because of its Founder! "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, the Word was God." Jesus is the Word made Flesh, the God-Man. How incredible it is that God reveals Himself to us in Jesus! Jesus appoints the Magisterium of the Church as the protector of His Revelation. What a comfort it is in this day and age to have Holy Mother the Church guarding and protecting the truths of our Faith! It is so confusing out there but I find incredible solace in the fact that I can say, "What does our Church teach? OK then...that settles it!"
another thought...
the feeling of unworthiness.
"Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." Not only does He say the Word, He is the Word, The Word becomes Flesh, We receive Him in Holy Eucharist. WOW! Now let's live the Word!
Carol
Beautifully said. Keep it coming Carol.
ReplyDeleteCarol I loved what you said so much I printed it out so I can read it again & absorb it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTHANKS, gals! Some of the challenges that I face in my own personal faith walk have to do with my lack of confidence and my lack of humility. I'm working on it. I used to think that they were opposites but now I believe that they are very closely related.
ReplyDeleteI suppose true confidence comes in trusting God, not so much in trusting myself. I know he's bigger than the Boogie-man and is in control. It's just hard to let my will go, particularly when it hurts. I feel most vulnerable when I feel that there is nothing I can do. The "Why, God, What the heck were you thinking?!" cry often comes up. Trusting in Divine Providence is difficult when I am full of pride. I know that The more confidence I have in God, the more I have to silence those questions and say "OK, GOD, You know what you're doing." I know God can write straight with crooked lines and sometimes my lines are pretty crooked!
I think I'm learning a little more about humility. I know I often confuse it with a false humility and have used it as an excuse. God made me! I'm His "fault"! but if God doesn't make mistakes, then I'm no fault. In today's society, it's common for people to speak of their children as "a mistake" but that mentality is so wrong! I was made just the way He wanted me! Oh, I have many faults but that's my doing. I am truly humbled when I think of the Crucifixion- God's love for me. Then, how have I returned His love?! Would I die for Him? "Death, but not sin!" I am comforted by Fr. Marx's homily in which he said that through the Holy Mass, God looks upon us and is pleased. All of our trials when united to the sufferings of Christ become efficacious. It's so comforting! When we lost our little Kathleen at 2 1/2 months old, this was my greatest comfort. (Not to mention we have our own little saint!)
Growing in my Faith is a continuous journey. Sure books are great, but I get discouraged when I forget what I read so quickly. God did not make me with a large memory bank.
Taking time out to spend with Jesus in front of the Blessed Sacrament, offering our works day by day to God as a prayer, participating in the Holy Mass, praying to Our Blessed Mother to protect us and guide us ...I think this is where our greatest growth will come from.