“The righteous shall live by faith.” Hab 2:4.
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1.
Jesus said, “Take faith daughter; your faith has made you well.” Mt 9:22.
Parable of the Talents, “Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.” Mt 25:21-23.
Jesus said to the young woman, “Your faith has saved you: go in peace.” Lk 7:50.
“Faith by itself, without works is dead.” James 2:17.
“I will show you my faith with my works.” James 2:28.
“We work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.” 2 Cor 1:24.
“Though the assent of faith is by no means a blind impulse of the mind, still no one can assent to the Gospel message as is necessary, without the illumination and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all joy in assenting to the truth and believing it.” Vatican I, Revelation.
“Faith dies when it is reduced to custom, to habit, to a purely emotional experience. It needs to be cultivated, helped to grow, at both the personal and the community level.” John Paul II, April 1998.
“To mature in faith, we have to grow in knowledge of its truths.” Pope John Paul II, June 1998.
“By faith, we completely submit our intellect and will to God. With our whole being we give assent to God the revealer. Sacred Scripture call this human response to God, the author of revelation, the obedience of faith,” CCC 143.
“The submission of our faith might nevertheless be in accordance with reason, God willed the external proofs of Revelation should be joined to the internal helps of the Holy Spirit.” CCC 156
“It is intrinsic to faith that a believer desires to know better the One in whom he has put his faith and to understand better what He has revealed, a more penetrating knowledge will in turn call forth a greater faith, increasingly set afire by love.” CCC 158
“It is the Church that believes first, and so bears, nourishes, and sustains my faith.” CCC168
“We guard with care the faith that we have received from the Church, for without ceasing, under the action of God’s Spirit this deposit of great price, as if in an excellent vessel, is constantly being renewed and causes the very vessel that contains it to be renewed.” CCC 175
“Faith by its specific nature is an encounter with the living God—an encounter opening up new horizons extending beyond the sphere of reason. But it is also a purifying force for reason itself. From God’s standpoint, faith liberates reason from its blind spots and therefore helps it to be ever more fully itself. Faith enables reason to do its work more effectively.” Pope Benedict XVI, God is Love.
Faith
Faith is believing in what is not seen or perceived with the senses. Faith uses reason but is not limited to reason. It is a spiritual gift growing out of one’s experience and knowledge of the Catholic faith and its teachings. Faith grows as a person comprehends the truths that come through Scripture and the tradition of the Catholic Church. Faith is a process of updating one’s knowledge and education in the person of Jesus and in the beliefs and doctrines that the Church teaches and affirms.
Questions to share
- Which passage touches you or burns in your heart the most? Why?
- How have you exercised this gift in the past?
- How are you now exercising this gift in ministry?
- Do you see new ways you can exercise this ministry in the future?