Wednesday November 13, 2024

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We have more than enough faith, because it’s a gift of the Holy Spirit, but we underestimate our faith.

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Good News Reflection for:

Wednesday of the 32nd Week of Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
November 13, 2024

Today’s Prayer:

Thank You, my Lord, because You come to us, speak to us in a thousand ways and wait for us at the end of our journey. Amen.

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Today’s Readings:

Titus 3:1-7
Ps 23:1-6
Luke 17:11-19
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111324.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-november-13-2024

How to have an extraordinary faith

Most of us think we don’t have enough faith, especially when our prayers don’t get answered the way we’d like or when miracles we seek don’t happen.

However, the opposite is true: We have more than enough faith, because it’s a gift of the Holy Spirit, but we underestimate our faith. Our faith is mediocre because our lives as Christians are mediocre. We are an extraordinary people, but we’re content with living merely ordinary lives so that God cannot ask us to do something outside the box of our comfort zones.

Why is it that converts to Catholicism tend to be more on fire in their faith and more involved in the parish than “cradle Catholics”? They are like the non-Jewish leper in today’s Gospel reading, who returned to Jesus full of praise. But even we converts (I’m one of them) take at least some areas of our faith for granted.

This is why the first reading reminds us of our responsibilities as Christians. Sometimes we take for granted God’s mercy and so we presume that if we break laws, cooperate with dishonesty at work, complain about others, quarrel, or react rudely, etc., God will so quickly forgive us that he won’t even notice it. When we take our faith for granted, we rationalize away the wrongness of wrong-doings. This is the sin of presumption.

One of my favorite rationalizations is the “need” to speed on the highway. I get bored easily and I eagerly look forward to reaching my destination so much that I want to hurry up and get there. If the road is clear and it’s safe to drive faster than the posted speed limit, I rationalize that as long as I don’t hurt anyone by breaking the law, it’s okay to do it.

A long time ago, God reminded me of this scripture from Titus while I was zooming down the highway. “But Lord,” I said. “If I slow down to the speed limit, I’ll be late.” And he replied, “So get into the habit of leaving earlier. Duh!”

I really did not want to hear this. “If You want me to change my attitude about this,” I said, “you’ll have to recreate me into somebody who wants to obey the speed limit. I see no point in slowing down while the road is safe for a fast ride.”

“Okay.”

Suddenly, to my surprise, this prayer about my attitude worked! It was quite extraordinary. I even felt excited about staying within the speed limit! (Well, to be honest, I rationalize that it’s okay to go just a little faster, as long as it’s within the speed in which police officers let you keep on going.)

Converts tend to be more excited about their faith because they gave up something to get it. What have your conversion experiences been like? Even if you’ve been a Catholic all your life, you’ve had times of gaining a deeper faith after suffering a loss or sacrifice. This is where your fire burns. This is where your Christian life is extraordinary. Use this gift for the benefit of those who need God’s extraordinary touch: Be an evangelizer and let your faith make a difference!

Reflect further on this issue with our video: “Need God’s Power? Here’s the Hidden Key” @ https://gnm-media.org/hidden-key-unlocks-power-god/

© by Terry A. Modica, Good News Ministries

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