Is there anyone in your life whose faith inspires you? Does your faith inspire others as well? - Daily Reflections August 17,2014

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE FAITH?

 

I don’t think that there are any easy answers to the above question. In fact, perhaps there is no single answer that will prove satisfactory to all. Because faith is the expression of our personal relationship with God, then it is going to vary for different people — a unique definition for each of us. However, there are some aspects of faith that are considered similar to all, such as trust, surrender, listening to the Word of God, obeying it, and so on. So faith is something unique to each of us, yet similar and, thus, comparable with others’ because of its common elements.

       The Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel expresses a marvelous faith because she is not a Jew and yet she believes so deeply in the power of Jesus to heal her daughter. The deep faith of a Gentile is admirable from the point of view of the believer. Jesus is amazed by it, too! If there is any great expression of faith in the Scriptures after that of Abraham who left his country in response to God’s call, of David who went up against Goliath with little more than a sling shot as his only weapon, it is this Gentile’s faith in the power of Jesus to heal.

       Let us take time out this week, preferably today while the story is stillfresh in our minds from the celebration of the Mass, to reflect upon herdeep faith and see if it can inspire us to believe more deeply and trust Jesus more fully. This is the ultimate goal of all faith — to deepen our relationship with God and, thus, enter more fully into the gift of salvation that He has promised us. This woman’s faith is enough to save the life of her daughter; there is little more powerful at work in the world than that!

       Let us make a decision to put aside our doubts and focus on the testimonies of men and women of faith that we have known or read, and so pray for a deeper faith of our own. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Is there anyone in your life whose faith inspires you? Does your faith inspire others as well?

 

Jesus, lead me deeper into my relationship with You as I reflect on the deep faith of others. Help me to remain faithful to all Your gifts every day of my life.