FAITH IS A SUPERNATURAL GIFT FROM GOD ALONE (HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER 23RD MAY 2022

FAITH IS A SUPER NATURAL GIFT FROM GOD ALONE  

(Acts 16:11-15; John 15:26-27; 16:1-4)

HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER

The catechism of the Catholic church (CCC) tells us that faith is a supernatural gift from God which enables us to believe without doubting whatsoever God has revealed. In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told that “the Lord opened the heart of Lydia to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14) and after her conversion, Lydia requested from Paul by saying “if you judge me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at home, and she prevailed upon us” (Acts 16:15). Beloved in Christ, God is the one who opens the heart of man to receive faith. It is a gift given by God and God alone. It is God's communication of himself to humanity, inviting us to share in his own. Independent of God, Man on his own cannot acquire Faith. It is through Faith that God opens the heart of man to his revelations.

Friends in Christ, although Faith marks the beginning of conversion, faith alone is not all that is needed for salvation. The letter of St. James tells us that “Faith without good works is dead” (James 2:26). The conversion of Lydia was concretized by her charitable works of hospitality and almsgiving to Paul. When God opened the heart of Lydia, He opened also her heart and hands and she responded without reservation.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, Christianity is a practical religion. Through Faith, God invites us to share in Divine life but then we need to also demonstrate the Faith we have received from God. Faith is not a passive gift but an active gift from God. St. James addressed this in his letter “ you have faith and I have works, show me your faith without works and I by work will show you my faith” (James 2:18). The Christian life is a life of charity, it is by good deeds a Christian demonstrates like Lydia the faith we have acquired from God. The life of a Christian is the life of witnessing to the revelations of God.

The Gospel reading lends credence to this character of witnessing when it says “when the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, he will testify (witness) on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning” (Jn 15:26-27). Beloved in Christ, a Christian witness is not only the person who understands things theoretically but one who can demonstrate it in his/her daily life. It is the example that counts.

We pray that the grace of God will assist us to fan into flames again the practical demonstration of the Faith we have received from God, so that our Christian vocation will continually blossom to the greater glory of God.

Have a blessed day

Fr Remi osj