Watering down Faith...

WORD 2day: Wednesday, 24th week in Ordinary time

September 20, 2023  - 1 Timothy 3: 14-16; Luke 7: 31-35 

At times we dwell on petty arguments regarding faith - to do this or not to do, who is greater and who is lesser, which word to use in prayer and which not, which is the most fitting time to do something for the Lord, which language is the most sacred language apt for liturgical celebrations, which rite is more acceptable and prone to reach God faster... are not these like the lamentations of the children Jesus refers to in the gospel today: we played the flute and you did not dance; we played the dirges and you did not moan!

Paul reminds us in the first reading today, that the mystery of our religion, or the truth of our faith, the crux of our Christian life is much deeper indeed. Let us not water down our faith to some rituals to be performed, some requirements or conditions to be fulfilled or some obligations to be respected. Our Christian faith is an entire life to be lived, in all its details, in its very depth. What really matters is not so much what we do, as what makes us do what we do! It is not so much what we refrain from, but what is that which matters more which makes us forego something or refrain from something.

Basically it is our motivation behind what we decide or what we choose, because our faith is not merely about our apparent behaviour and reactions, but it is all about the deep seated convictions that give rise to such acts and habits. Yes, our faith is about our daily life; it is living our daily life with God.