eroding faith?
"You must hold fast to faith, be firmly grounded and steadfast in it, unshaken in the hope promised you by the gospel you have heard." —Colossians 1:23
Paul told the Colossians the same thing four times. He said that they "must hold fast," "be firmly grounded," "steadfast," and "unshaken." How firm is your faith in the Lord? Is your Confirmation in the Holy Spirit guarding you from the erosion of faith, so pervasive in our secularized culture? Has God the Father firmly established you in Christ? (2 Cor 1:21) Do you find yourself doubting things you never doubted before?
Perhaps you momentarily question if prayer has any value. Maybe you even doubt Jesus' real presence in Holy Communion. You may entertain the thought that certain circumstances could possibly justify adultery or homosexual activity. Then you catch yourself, return to sanity, and wonder why such thoughts cross your mind.
Satan is bombarding us with influences designed to erode our faith. We need to hear what Paul said to the Colossians. We need a renewal of our Confirmation. We need the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Father, stir into flame the gift bestowed when hands were laid on me (2 Tm 1:6). Renew my Baptism and Confirmation.
Promise: "The Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath." —Lk 6:5
Praise: After fifteen years as a monk, St. Gregory was chosen as the new pope. He was a voice of faith and reason in a time of chaos and lawlessness.
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 1, 2011
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