In our baptism we have received our Christian faith, a great gift that entails a new identity; as adopted sons and daughters of God through Jesus Christ. We have to own this gift from God with faith. “Faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not (Hb 11:1).” In other words as St. Thomas Aquinas says, “Faith is a habit of the mind whereby eternal life is begun in us making the intellect assent to what is non-apparent.” Through our repeated actions of the mind directed to God, we are united with Him in this life, though we may not fully understand His will for us. And our faith has an origin from God. “For by grace you are saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God (Eph: 2:8).” This is the first phase of an act of faith. The second pertains to the manner by which we appropriate this gift of faith in our lives; how we put into action the faith we receive from Christ.
How do we respond to the gift of faith?
In the gospel (Mt 17:19-21), the apostles were not able to expel demons because of their unbelief. How can that be, when these apostles just experienced or may have heard from the other apostles the transfiguration of Christ (Mt 17:1-9)? Why such unbelief? The apostles may have responded to that faith experience in ways that distanced them from God. They felt privileged to witness such foretaste of what is to come; the glory of Christ in heaven. That sense of being the chosen ones made them conceited. Instead of strengthening their faith in God, they began to falter in relaying in His immense power. They began to believe in themselves. They still believe, not in God anymore, but in themselves, in their own capacity. They missed that point that faith with all the graces it entails primarily comes from God and ought to be directed towards God and not to one’s self. Thus by praying and fasting, Christ admonished them to remain fervent in their belief not in themselves but in God who is the origin and end of their faith.
Are we not like also the apostles sometimes? We too receive our faith in God. Through it graces abound in our life. But how many times we have become proud of these graces and blessing in our life, thinking we have them becomes of our own doing? We thought we have limitless power to that point that we reject Divine grace. How many times have we relayed more to our own strength believing we can save ourselves? And how many times we have failed because of our belief in ourselves? Christ reminds us, only faith in Him that would enable us to do what seems to be impossible, even moving a mountain.
Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Clare. She is the chief rival of St. Francis in imitating Christ the poor. With the help of St. Francis, she found the Order of Poor Clares, a community of woman who lives as contemplative nuns spending their life in prayer and silence. St. Clare and her companion relayed solely on alms, having complete faith in God to care for their needs. When many thought her practice of poverty was too austere she replied: “They say we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God to be truly called poor?” Her faith in Christ enables St. Clare to do great deeds, such us driving away invaders of Assisi by rising a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament and saying “O Lord, do not deliver over to beasts the souls that praise You! (Ps. 73). Protect Your servants, for You have redeemed them by Your precious Blood.” As she was praying, a voice was heard saying “Always will I protect you.” And the invaders of Assisi took flight in no time. Such marvelous faith in Christ transformed St. Clare that she described as Clara nomine, vita clarior, clarissima moribus. (bright in name, more brilliant in life, most brilliant in character, Thomas of Celano). St. Clare was brilliant not because of her own strength but because of God’s presence in her life made possible through her faith in Christ.
May we be like St Clare; bright in our name as Christians, more brilliant in our life, and most brilliant in our character as adopted sons and daughters of God. All these through the gift of faith of God appropriately received in our life.
How many times have I relayed and believe more in my own strength, more than believing in God and allowing Him to direct my life?
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