Who has time for all of life’s duties amidst the distractions? How is one to grow in faith when so little free time exists?
Even devout Catholics can be overwhelmed by home and work responsibilities, weighed down by economic, social, and political concerns. Unlimited personal access to media equates to unlimited media access to persons. Minds and hearts are flooded with things of this world. Even worthy causes, like volunteering to help others, advocating for peace and social justice, donating money, voting wisely, working to steward the planet well, all require time and frequently invite greater stress into ourselves, rather than greater faith. Even as they give of themselves, many Catholics drift still farther from their faith.
On top of this, throughout the world, nations unabatedly pursue worldly agendas. Endless wars, starvation, and suffering ensue. Failed ideologies, regimes, and political parties continue to draw countless adherents, believers, despite their shameful records. Misplaced faith in ideologies, social causes, and inefficacious leaders can—and does—distract from faith in God.
Imagine, for a moment, carefully designing and planting a flower garden. Then imagine, for lack of time, not watering, nourishing, or tending it. The flowers soon wilt and begin to die. So too faith wilts and fails when it receives sparse attention.
It is important to remind ourselves continually of the roots of our faith, so that we might navigate life’s stressors and distractions, and properly orient ourselves towards receiving more grace.
St. Francis of Assisi recognized the need to set aside worldly attachments in pursuing faith when he wrote, “But in the holy love which is God, I beg all [my] brothers, both the ministers and the others, as they overcome every obstacle and put aside every care and anxiety, to strive as best they can to serve, love, honor and adore the Lord God with a clean heart and pure mind, for this is what He desires above all things.”
Building on this, a French parish priest of the 19th century, St. John Vianney, advised, “See, my children, a Christian’s treasure is not on earth, it is in heaven. Well, then! Our thoughts must go to where our treasure is. Man has a fine function: to pray and to love. You pray, you love: that is man’s happiness on earth!”
St. John Vianney understood how prayer and love give a faith-based foundation to every good deed. He continued, “We have not deserved to pray, but God, in his goodness, has allowed us to speak with him. Our prayer is like incense that he receives with the utmost pleasure.” God, and only God, may create life, bring about full justice, and establish lasting peace. It is through Him that goodness is achieved, and through prayer that Catholics entreat Him to protect and guide all humanity.
Growth in faith begins not with personal goals or achievements, but with praying for God’s guidance. Not only does God listen to prayers, He delights in them. He responds, if not in ways anticipated or hoped for, then in ways that may exceed human comprehension, ways that ultimately are always good.
Faith is a gift that becomes its own reward, growing deeper with each prayer and each act of love. Through prayer, faith is confirmed, strengthened, and given new life. In turning from inward goals to outwardly caring, and through blessed petitions on how best to love everyone, faith is abundantly nourished and will again blossom.
Recall the words of St. Paul, “If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal…If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Cor. 13: 1-3). Each day should be humbly met and lovingly filled with the tasks God sets before us. In so doing, while praying in His presence, even long-wilting faith will again start to flourish.
God is love. Any expectation of happiness without Him will eventually disappoint. One must love first, and the more one loves, the more the seeds of faith spring back to life.
In a troubled world, one need not feel empty and frustrated. Even the smallest deed, undertaken with love, helps uplift God’s creation.
In time, God’s love prevails over all.
Mother Teresa once observed, “I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.” When we put our worldly “goals” and “successes” in perspective, and focus on prayer and love, our garden of faith may bloom beautifully.
Acting with and through love of God and neighbor, praying throughout the day, opening hearts and souls, all helps faith to grow. Soon faith and lasting goodness thrive, based not on worldly gains, but on the depth of one’s love.
How important is faith to being fully Catholic? St. Augustine provides an answer, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”
In the end, prayer is how we talk with God, love is how we fulfill His commandments, and faith is how we know life’s purposes. Faith becomes our interior guiding light in a world where “What is visible is transitory; what is invisible is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18).
All else is vanity (Eccl. 1:2).
Photo by José Martín Ramírez Carrasco on Unsplash
