living faith, living by faith,and faith-living
"Jesus showed amazement on hearing this, and turned to the crowd which was following Him to say, 'I tell you, I have never found so much faith among the Israelites.' " —Luke 7:9
Jesus complimented the centurion on his faith. The centurion expressed his faith by:
- believing that Jesus could heal from long-distance by just giving an order (Lk 7:7),
- believing the law and thereby respecting the Jewish law of not entering a Gentile's house (Lk 7:6),
- believing that God wanted him to love the Jewish people (see Lk 7:5), and
- believing God wanted him to build a synagogue for the Jews (see Lk 7:5).
The centurion shows that faith is not just a matter of doctrine. There is faith-healing, faith-respecting, faith-loving, faith-living, and faith-giving. Faith is not a thing which occasionally affects our lives. Because faith is an assurance based on our personal relationship with Jesus (see Heb 11:1), it should pervade every aspect of our lives. Our lives are to become lives of faith in the Son of God, Who loved us and gave His life for us (Gal 2:20). Faith is a way of life. It is the atmosphere in which we think, act, react, work, feel, and live. "All depends on faith" (Rm 4:16).
Prayer: Father, may I walk, talk, and live by faith (2 Cor 5:7).
Promise: "Every time, then, you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes!" —1 Cor 11:26
Praise: St. John Chrysostom wrote "priests have received from God a power that He has given neither to angels nor to archangels," to forgive sins.
Reference: (Fathers, take time to show your sons how important your faith is and how important their faith is to you. Come to the Father/Son retreat Oct. 1-2 and enjoy the beauty of God's creation in Adams County, Ohio. Call 937-587-5464 to register.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2010
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.