On Growing In Faith

When you read this paragraph, it all seems a little too much like a well-oiled machine.  Gear A turns Gear B, they work in conjunction to push a doohickey, and the doohickey finally pumps out “faith.”  Perhaps it is like a well-oiled machine, when everything works right.  But generally, it doesn’t work right.  Our intellects get muddled and sludged up my confusing and contrary information.  We have a tough time discerning truth from lie.  Our cooperation gets rusty, and sometimes it stops things up.  And as for the divine grace—there are times in all of our lives when it appears we just aren’t getting any.

What causes these problems?  Why can’t it all go smoothly, the way it seems to go with the saints?  While they’re cruising to heaven in brand new BMWs, we’re just barely clunking along in old, broken down Buicks, backfiring and blowing black smoke from the tail pipe every inch of the way.

The truth is, the saints weren’t driving BMWs and they struggled with their faith every bit as much as you and I.  As a matter of fact, many of them struggled much more.  The difference between them and us, is that they often were more focused on obtaining greater holiness than on obtaining greater faith.

Holiness (our faith put into action) is the oil that allows this big machine to work.  It keeps the gears moving, keeps the pumps pumping, and gives us an endless supply of spiritual energy.

The trick is to transform the Catholic faith.  It must cease to be something you believe in, and become something you do.  You must let it become a way of life.

Think of it like navigating the oceans (I think CS Lewis made a similar comparison in his book Mere Christianity).  You can study the ocean and learn all about it in books.  But without shoving off in a boat, you’ll never come to really know it.  On the other hand, you can go straight to the water without ever having learned anything, and you’ll quickly find yourself lost and won’t have the slightest idea of what to do about it.

But if you study, take the voyages you’re ready for (occasionally depending on a guide or a mentor), you’ll come to know the waters and love them.

It is the same with faith and religion.  Knowing about it won’t help you, and what little faith you might have will wither up and die if you don’t experience it.  Jump in.  Be holy.  Give up the things that are unholy (even if they’re not directly sinful).  Embrace the things that will bring you closer to God.

Suddenly, without realizing how you’ve gotten there, you’ll find yourself cruising in a BMW.