Increase our faith!
Sometime in October 2022, there was a rumor that I have died. Even my siblings and friends received condolence message for my “demise.” Why? That was because the title of my column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Sunday was “Rest in Peace,” with my picture and name below it! Oh well, I took it all with humor and faith, saying to myself: “Thank you Lord, for the advance prayers for the repose of my soul!”
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In today’s Gospel (Lk. 17, 5-10), Jesus tells His disciples that faith, no matter how small like a mustard seed, is powerful, if it is deep, sincere, and real. Like the disciples, we pray today: “Lord, increase our faith!” We must learn to believe, trust, and surrender everything and everyone to God in faith.
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What each of us needs to be reminded of again and again is that we have a Master whom we serve and obey. May we not fall into the trap of entitlement and compensation as we go about doing God’s work. “When you have done all, you have been commanded, say, we are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.” Lord, increase our faith! Help us to believe more, and doubt less; trust more, and worry less; thank more, and complain less; smile more, and frown less; venture more, and fear less. Amen!
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Having faith in God is not just a matter of professing it, or proclaiming it, or talking about it. Having faith in God involves a deep relationship with the One who is greater than us, and who we believe loves us. Faith is not so much about creed nor beliefs as about a deep personal relationship with a God whom we trust.
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If your life now is about your career, popularity, or wealth journey, then you are still not journeying to God’s heart. Somewhere down the road (hopefully not on our deathbed!), we must embark on a real faith journey. You will know that you have embarked on a faith journey when you begin to seek God, to listen to Him, and to rely on Him more; when your values change; when the order of what is important in your life is rearranged; when you can let go of what you thought were indispensable in your life, and let God; and when you accept your limitations and mortality, and finally accept God’s love, power, and providence.
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Don’t just thank God that you have faith. Thank God that you are the source of faith for other people, too. Like light, faith must be shown and spread far and wide. Don’t keep the faith. Spread it.
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Pride makes us belittle faith. I remember visiting a sick person once who was indifferent to faith. I tried to offer him the sacrament of reconciliation, but he held on to his pride. When I realized that he did not want to open his heart, I just said to him, “God loves you very much, no matter what.” I saw him turn misty-eyed. I knew it hit his heart. But, regaining his composure and pride, he said, “I guess He has good taste, Father!” Cute. But sad, very sad, that he held on to foolish pride rather than to God, till the very end.
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Someone once said that faith is like the spare tire that we carry with us as we journey on. It is just there, unnoticed, neglected, and often taken for granted, until we experienced flat tire. How lucky we are if we have a spare tire. But, check your spare tire and make sure that it isn’t flat or underinflated. Faith must be constantly checked and nourished. Make sure that your spare is not a flat tire.
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What is the difference between an atheist and a believer? It is the difference between going on a journey with just four wheels or with five wheels. The very thought that there is one spare tire makes a more confident travel. Aside from your money, investments, and properties, do you carry with you a spare tire as you journey on? If you are all human efforts without faith, you are missing a lot. On the other hand, if you are all faith without human efforts, you could be messing a lot. Balance. Faith should lead us to good works, and good works should lead us to deeper faith. Faith without work is empty. Work without faith is vain. Tip the balance, and we end up with a heroic, but empty humanism on one hand, and spiritual pride and self-righteousness on the other hand.
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Sharing with you a version of Psalm 23 for senior citizens: “Though I walk through the valley of ‘senior moments’ I shall fear no panic for my senior discount card is with me. A pair of reading glasses in each room shall comfort me. Surely, a receding hairline shall follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the restaurants of the Early Bird Special while enjoying retirement. Blessed are we in the last laps of years of our life!” May we have not only deep faith, but a lively faith, as well.
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October is the month of the Holy Rosary. Even just carrying a rosary with you is already a powerful help, and a reminder of Mama Mary’s presence in our journey.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, increase our faith! Amen.
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