By Zoe Cannon
Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
In the gospels, we read about Jesus preaching the word of God and opposition attacks from the crowd. These voices challenge His teachings, but Jesus is never thrown by the distractions. Through our baptism and faith, we also have the power to remain calm when the voice of deceit challenges us!
The weight of the world is heavy, but please do not let your heart be unresponsive to the love of God. This message from Servant of God Jesuit Father John Hardon is very powerful, “Our duty as Catholics is to know truth, to live truth, to defend truth with others, and to suffer for the truth.”
St. Gregory the Great proclaimed: “The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.”
The ultimate form of wisdom is to be concerned with the eternal, living in the world but not of the world. We do not know when we will depart from this earthly life. If we did, we could prepare ourselves with a time of gratification and a time for repentance.
Our baptism is more than a simple purification of the soul, the sanctifying grace transforms our life. Our promise to reject Satan and all his evil ways is our power against death! Through God, we find the strength to persevere in our need for conversion. Be gentle, forgive one another and do not be thrown by distractions.
On Sept. 16, we will celebrate the Feast of St. Pope Cornelius and St. Cyprian, both martyred for the faith. Cornelius was elected pope in 251 during the persecutions of the Emperor Decius. Pope Cornelius was challenged with a schism brought on by Novatian, who also claimed to be the pope. The controversy was over the return of those who renounced the faith due to the threat of martyrdom. When the persecutions ended, they wanted to be brought back into the Church. Cornelius convened a synod and was confirmed as the rightful successor of St. Peter. He decreed that all apostates must be welcomed back with adequate penance. He is called the “Pope of Second Chances.”
Bishop Cyprian, the Father of the African Church, was a friend and strong supporter of Pope Cornelius’ decision to bring defectors back into the Church through the mercy of God. St. Cyprian wrote: The Unity of the Catholic Church … "You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your mother. … God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one; one is the faith, and one is the people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity of a body. ... If we are the heirs of Christ, let us abide in the peace of Christ; if we are the sons of God, let us be lovers of peace."
Pope Cornelius was exiled and died from the hardship he endured; Cyprian was martyred during the persecutions of Valerian. Salvation history reminds us to be soldiers in Christ. The battle is real!
We all need second chances — ask for forgiveness and atone for all offenses to God. We can be assured in things hoped for and convicted in things unseen when we have unflappable faith! Amen!