The Gospel of Luke, chapter 12:37

People with no faith often marvel at those who have faith. Some who live by faith seem to get by with little visible means of support. Their support is the invisible God who provides for their every need, who comforts them in times of hardship and leads them safely home. People of faith have a great gift which no money or influence can buy. Even if you have nothing and still have faith, you have everything.

Living by faith asks for a special attitude. It requires you to set your heart on the things of God; on the example of Jesus; and it calls for specific, daily choices.

St. Paul states that faith is “conviction about things we do not see.” We do not see God but, deep down, we intuit His existence, and sense that He is all around us. We do not see grace but we experience it in the Sacraments and in our personal lives when we live by the Gospel. We do not see Jesus with our eyes but we meet Him in others and receive Him in communion. We do not see the Holy Spirit but we recognize the inspirations of the Holy Spirit when we are moved by the Spirit to follow the dictates of truth. It is because of faith, St. Paul tells us, that men and women of old “were approved by God.” Abraham had faith in God, and God blessed him and protected him even when he did not know “where he was going.” Sarah believed so strongly that God “was worthy of trust” that she received power to conceive though she was past the age.

What a gift is faith! We lean on this invisible support when we need help. But, Jesus also asks for a faith that is active and that keeps watch. “Be on guard,” He tells us, “like men awaiting their master’s return.” He asks for the faith that is up and doing, treating each other with justice and charity, watching out for the coming of the Lord. People of faith not only trust an invisible means of support; they are visible means of support to others–they are bearers of good news, taking good care of each other.

Our daily lives reflect the gift of faith we bring to each other. It is through our daily experience that we live the life of faith.

Fr. Hugh Duffy