How to have an extraordinary faith

Good News Reflection
Wednesday of the 32nd Week of Ordinary Time
November 10, 2010

Today's Saint: Leo the Great
Pray for the pope and all church leaders to be fearless:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/LeoGreat.htm

Today's Readings:
Titus 3:1-7
Ps 23:1-6
Luke 17:11-19
http://www.usccb.org/nab/111010.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_11_10.mp3

How to have an extraordinary faith

Most of us think we don't have enough faith, especially when our prayers don't get answered the way we'd like or when miracles we seek don't happen.

However, the opposite is true: We have more than enough faith, because it's a gift of the Holy Spirit, but we underestimate our faith. Our faith is mediocre because our lives as Christians are mediocre. We are an extraordinary people, but we're content with living merely ordinary lives so that God cannot ask us to do something outside the box of our comfort zones.

Why is it that converts to Catholicism tend to be more on fire in their faith and more involved in the parish than "cradle Catholics"? They are like the non-Jewish leper intoday's Gospel reading, who returned to Jesus full of praise. But even us converts (I'm one of them) take at least some areas of our faith for granted.

This is why today's first reading reminds us of our responsibilities as Christians. Sometimes we take for granted God's mercy and so we presume that if we break laws, cooperate with dishonesty at work, complain about others, quarrel, or react rudely, etc., God will overlook it. When we take our faith for granted, we rationalize away the wrongness of wrong-doings. This is the sin of presumption.

One of my favorite rationalizations is the "need" to speed on the highway. I get bored easily and I so eagerly look forward to reaching my destination that I want to hurry up and get there. So if the road is clear and it's safe to drive faster than the posted speed limit, I rationalize that as long as I don't hurt anyone by breaking the law, it's okay to do it.

A long time ago, God reminded me of this scripture from Titus while I was zooming down the highway. "But Lord," I said. "If I slow down to the speed limit, I'll be late." And he replied, "So get into the habit of leaving earlier. Duh!"

I really did not want to hear this. "If You want me to change my attitude about this," I said, "you'll have to recreate me into somebody who WANTS to obey the speed limit. I see no point in slowing down while the road is safe for a fast ride."

"Okay."

Suddenly, to my surprise, this prayer about my attitude worked! It was quite extraordinary. I even felt excited about staying at the speed limit! (Well, no more than five miles per hour above the speed limit, which is that zone in which police officers will let you keep on going.)

Converts tend to be more excited about their faith because they gave up something to get it. What have your conversion experiences been like? Even if you've been a Catholic all your life, you've had times of gaining a deeper faith after suffering a loss or sacrifice. This is where your fire burns. This is where your Christian life is extraordinary. Use this gift for the benefit of those who need God's extraordinary touch: Be an evangelizer and let your faith make a difference!

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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