Daily Retreat 10/20/07
2007 Oct 20 Sat/ BVM/ Paul of the Cross, p, rf
Rom 4: 13. 16-18/ Ps 104(105): 6-7. 8-9. 42-43/ Lk 12: 8-12
From today’s readings: “It depends on faith, so that it may be a gift.... The Lord remembers His covenant for ever.... The Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say....”
It depends on faith
Naturally, the element of faith is a favorite subject of scripture. Yet ours is an age which sometimes seems to belittle all faith indiscriminately as infantile, instead of recognizing true faith in God as a great virtue!
It is, in fact, essential to our human dignity that each one of us can freely reject or accept the promptings of faith - God forces belief in Him on no one. The whole created order gives ample evidence of a divine Creator, and the light of reason reliably points to God just as a compass needle faithfully points to the north, but that is not enough for one who has deliberately rejected faith. For, tragically, the agnostic scientist who vainly seeks for “scientific proof” for the existence of God is looking for what God Himself has decreed He will not give, because the confining criteria for such a scientific proof by definition would leave no room for faith!
And it must not be forgotten that faith is a gift from God! As such, no one can earn faith, buy faith, or capture faith, even though conversely, one can always spurn it, sell out on it, or let go of it. But for those who humbly accept the gift of faith and treasure it, God desires to strengthen and further enrich the same gift every day, until those who hold it fast finally find themselves holding Heaven....
Rom 4: 13. 16-18/ Ps 104(105): 6-7. 8-9. 42-43/ Lk 12: 8-12
From today’s readings: “It depends on faith, so that it may be a gift.... The Lord remembers His covenant for ever.... The Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say....”
It depends on faith
Naturally, the element of faith is a favorite subject of scripture. Yet ours is an age which sometimes seems to belittle all faith indiscriminately as infantile, instead of recognizing true faith in God as a great virtue!
It is, in fact, essential to our human dignity that each one of us can freely reject or accept the promptings of faith - God forces belief in Him on no one. The whole created order gives ample evidence of a divine Creator, and the light of reason reliably points to God just as a compass needle faithfully points to the north, but that is not enough for one who has deliberately rejected faith. For, tragically, the agnostic scientist who vainly seeks for “scientific proof” for the existence of God is looking for what God Himself has decreed He will not give, because the confining criteria for such a scientific proof by definition would leave no room for faith!
And it must not be forgotten that faith is a gift from God! As such, no one can earn faith, buy faith, or capture faith, even though conversely, one can always spurn it, sell out on it, or let go of it. But for those who humbly accept the gift of faith and treasure it, God desires to strengthen and further enrich the same gift every day, until those who hold it fast finally find themselves holding Heaven....
posted by FrPitstick | 10/19/2007
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