THE DEMANDS OF OUR FAITH

 
 
 
 THE DEMANDS OF OUR FAITH
 
Homily for the Archdiocese of Lingayen Dagupan for August 20, 2017 to prepare the Second Synod of Lingayen Dagupan
 
 
What is faith? Faith is trust. Faith is belief. Faith is action.
 
Faith is confidence in God. It is to rely on the strength of God and His infinite power. It is hope.
 
Faith is belief in truths revealed. It is acceptance of the mind and heart of the creed handed down to us by our forefathers in the Church.
 
Faith is action; in fact, faith is dead without active living out.
 
The Word of God for us today is FAITH.
 
Faith is empowering. It makes life’s burdens easier to bear. Pope Benedict XVI wrote that faith makes life lighter and easier. Faith enables us to escape the gravity of our problems which drag us down. The Canaanite woman could have fallen into defeat and despair. Her child was chronically sick. Her faith lifted her up from the heaviness of hopelessness to the “holy mountain” who is Christ himself.
 
Faith is all embracing. The house of God is a house of prayer for all peoples without distinction as we heard from the Prophet Isaiah. Christ offered His life on the cross not just for Israel but for all sinners. The messianic mission is for everyone. It embraces all.
 
Finally true faith extols what has been received. Faith extols the One who has revealed himself. Faith cannot be self-conscious and timid. Faith is always bold and open. Paul recognizes that he has been called to proclaim Christ to the Gentiles. He was met initially with suspicion and doubt but he refused to be weighed down by these obstacles. We can overcome fatalism and doubt by the power of faith.
 
The Synod of Lingayen Dagupan due to be celebrated from September 2 to 9 next is a celebration of faith. It is our faith in Christ that will unite all the synod members together. Faith is confident trust. Faith is unquestioning acceptance of Christ’s teachings. Faith is best shown by Christ like living.
 
We pray that the Synod strengthen our faith so that the weights of opposition to the Church may not pull us down. The cold hearts of so many; the blood thirst that is spreading and indifference that is creeping; the confusion that is spreading and violence that is becoming the new normal—these situations need the Gospel. These are the concerns of the synod.
 
Although the Synod’s membership will be quite limited, the scope of the Synod is all embracing. It will face issues not only of the Catholic Church but of the entire society in which we live. The membership in the Synod was diligently chosen so that Catholics of all ages and backgrounds are able to participate.
 
The Synod is a loud and clear proclamation of our faith. It extols the missionaries who brought us the faith. It extols the martyr saints of Pangasinan. It extols the faith we have received. Faith is not to be hidden. Faith not proclaimed is not faith at all.
 
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