Practicing Faith

   “And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell;” (Matt 7: 26 – 27)

   The greatest athletes quickly lose their abilities if they don’t practice and use their skills.  A musician will never be great without practice and continually playing their instrument.  A doctor may have extensive knowledge of anatomy but will never be a great surgeon unless they perform surgeries, honing their skills.  Faith is very much the same.  If it isn’t used it will wither and die.  Without the nourishment of continued practice and use faith will not increase.

   I’ve often wondered why some have great faith and others do not.  People like St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John of the Cross, Pope St. John Paul II come to mind.  The Rev. Billy Graham had a faith that touched millions of people during his life.  Why were they the ones chosen to have great faith when others are not?

   I suspect the reason is within us as much as with God.  Those who have great faith are those who have given themselves to the service of God, putting their faith to work to help others find Him.  I believe that the more we offer ourselves to God and the more we put our faith to work, the greater our faith will be.  “For to him who has will more be given;” (Mark 4: 25).  By living our faith in service to Him more faith will be given us.  However, the opposite is also true, “and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4: 25).  If our faith is not practiced and used it will weaken and even die.

   Faith requires attention if it is to grow and develop.  Putting our faith in action in our lives will help us become more faithful.  We won’t become more faithful by prayer alone; we must use our faith in the service of our Lord.

Father, I pray for an ever-deepening faith.

Help me to gain such faith by offering it in service to You.

Amen