greater faith (part 2)
"Without seeing you now believe in Him, and rejoice with inexpressible joy touched with glory because you are achieving faith's goal, your salvation." —1 Peter 1:8-9
On Easter Sunday, the risen Lord invited and challenged us through the Church to renew our Baptismal promises and publicly profess our faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Because Jesus wanted Thomas to have faith in Him, He even acceded to Thomas' demands to put his finger into Jesus' nail-marks and his hand into Jesus' wounded side. The Lord wants us to have faith so as to cry out with Thomas: "My Lord and my God!" (Jn 20:28)
"Without faith, it is impossible to please" God (Heb 11:6). We are saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8). All depends on faith (Rm 4:16). Without faith, Jesus' saving death and resurrection is in vain for us. Therefore, we must pray for increased, deeper faith (Lk 17:5). We must feed our faith through the Church's teachings, especially the Bible. We must exercise and use our faith through good works (Jas 2:17ff), even through suffering (1 Pt 1:6ff).
On this Mercy Sunday, cry out for God's mercy and accept the grace to live in ever deepening faith.
Prayer: Father, in the risen Christ may I devote myself "to the apostles' instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42).
Promise: "There is cause for rejoicing here. You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears." —1 Pt 1:6-7
Praise: Praise Jesus risen from the dead! "This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it" (Ps 118:24). Alleluia forever!
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Giles H. Pater, November 15, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, November 16, 2001