“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
“I welcome miracles.
I believe in great possibilities.
I have faith in my destiny.
I release fear and worry.
My heart knows what is true.
I trust in the journey of life.”
Linda Kavelin Popov
Definition
FAITH – is to trust. Faith helps us grow in friendship with Jesus and his friendship helps us become the best we can be by trusting in him so we can become more like him. Growing in friendship with Jesus means learning to trust him and knowing that he is always with us. Faith is always open to new things because if you have faith you are a trusting person.
A person of faith believes in God and all that God has done. But faith is not simply a belief that something is true, it is a way of living. We are called not only to keep the faith but to live a faithful life filled with hope and love.
Virtue to Live By
I know that faith is a gift from God
Faith helps me grow in friendship with Jesus
I show my faith by living my life filled with hope and love
Biblical sources
“Jesus paid no attention to what they said, but told him, “Do not be afraid, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3)
“It is with your heart that you believe…” (Romans 10:10)
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Catholic sources
“I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order that I may understand.” (St. Anselm, Proslogium)
“Trust and trust alone should lead us to love.” (St. Therese of Lisieux, Collected Letters)
“Faith is the radical trust that home has always been there and always will be there.” (Henri J. M. Nouwen)
“The history … of our families, of our communities, the concrete history we build each day in our schools is never “completed”, never exhausts its possibilities. On the contrary, it is always open to what is new, to what has not been taken into account until now. Though it may seem impossible, it is definitely not so because the horizon of new possibilities is rooted in the creative power and love of God.” (Pope Francis)
Why Practise Faith?
Faith is about placing our trust in God or Jesus. There are many examples in the gospels when Jesus told people not to give up especially when they thought something was impossible or because they were afraid. Jesus asked them to have faith. Faith is a gift that comes from knowing and living what you believe no matter what happens. Our friendship with Jesus needs to deepen if our faith is to grow. If we are faithful this will show itself by a life filled with trust, hope and love.
How do we Practise Faith?
A good way to practise faith is to place our trust in God and Jesus through deepening our friendship with God. We can do this by spending time with God in moments of quiet and prayer. It is also important to realise that our faith grows when it is tested. Faith gets stronger when what you believe is tested by other people and things that happen in life and you find that you still believe because your faith is rooted in God and Jesus. When you are faithful you make promises to others and keep them. You can perform a role or do a job as best you can.
Signs of living the virtue of faith:
- I know God loves me and I trust God to take care of me
- I ask God to guide in my life
- I spend time with God in moments of quiet and prayer
- I share my belief in God with others
- My words and actions show my faith in God’s love
Reflection Questions:
When do you show faith in your life?
How can you stop worrying too much and have faith instead?
How often do you say one thing and do another? How can you become more faithful?
Quotes:
“Do not be afraid; only have faith.” (Mark 5:36)
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.” (Antoine De Saint-Exupery)
“I do dimly perceive that whilst everything around me is ever changing, ever dying, there is underlying all that change a living power that is changeless, that holds all together, that creates, dissolves, and re-creates. That informing spirit or power is God.” (Mahatma Gandi)