The Year of Faith is coming to a close but our faith must continue to grow

We are Catholic therefore we celebrate. For the past year we, the people of God, have celebrated what sustains us, and that is, faith. It is through faith that we can experience the reality we cannot ultimately understand, the mystery of God.

A number of years ago Sister Alexa Suelzer, SP, spoke in Corpus Christi.  Part of her talk dealt with the miracles in the Old Testament. One comment concerned the miracle we so often miss in the Scriptures as well as in our daily lives and it is the miracle of faith.

Because of that miracle, she said, the Jewish people were able to see God’s presence in their lives. Salvation history records their struggles and even the abandonment of their faith in God. Yet God called them back time and again to an intimate relationship with Himself. Humanity’s struggle of faith not only gave rise to the great men and women of the Bible but also of those we call saints.

We, too, often grapple with faith. Doubt can cloud the sense of God’s presence; distractions can sidetrack us to the point, “Why bother?” A life of faith can wither under the glare of disappointment when our personal expectations fail to meet God’s will.

It is striking that the Year of Faith ends on the feast of Christ the King with its Gospel reading of the stark portrayal of Jesus’ crucifixion. His executioners and those who have came to watch as well as one of the convicts being crucified along with Jesus, treated Jesus as a common criminal. However, the convict on His other side speaks up on His behalf and in turn is given the promise of paradise. Because this story’s desolate image is so familiar; it has become blunted for far too many people.

While it may be cliché to say the Year of Faith is not ending but only beginning, it still needs to be said. Pope Francis calls us to see with the eyes of faith; he asks us to see Jesus in those who are not on society’s usual radar screen and respond accordingly. In the United States there are some 20 million people who are hungry and some 1 million people who are homeless. These brothers and sisters and others who suffer from joblessness, discrimination, illness, aging, abuse, etc. call our faith into action.

Blessed John Paul wrote of Mary, “Hers was a daring faith…[because] at the Annunciation she believed in what was humanly impossible…Mary teaches Christians to live their faith as a demanding and engaging journey, which in every age and situation of life requires courage and constant perseverance.”

Today, God calls each of us to follow her example. Statistics would have us believe it is humanly impossible to impact the enormity of need, but it can be done if we just begin with one person at a time. We must put our faith into action.

You can put faith into action by donating to a charity that serves those in need, such as Catholic Charities, The Ark, Hope House and others. If your parish has a jail ministry, support it by supplying spiritual reading materials. Honor someone living or deceased by donating in his or her name. Even small donations given on a regular basis can do great good.

Volunteering is another way to put your faith into action. There are many opportunities to help such as at the Mother Teresa Shelter, St. Vincent de Paul, your parish food pantry, visiting shut-ins and nursing homes and as a mentor or sponsor for the RCIA program.

Simple encouragement is also a means of putting your faith into action. Encourage individuals to consider a religious vocation, write thank you letters to those who serve God’s people, thank at least one person a day, invite someone to go to Mass with you.

Praying on a regular basis is an excellent way to show your gratitude for the gift of your faith. Pray for someone struggling with faith, for those who have lost their faith and for parents who hand on the faith. Make a Holy Hour once a week or attend a retreat.

Finally, study is also an excellent means of growing in faith. Join a parish Bible study class. If your parish does not have one, ask your pastor to invite someone to teach a class in your parish. Read a book on the lives of the saints or theology.
When sharing your faith becomes a habit, the celebration of faith will indeed continue and, in the process, faith will unfold one of its best-kept secrets—joy.