Homily: 6th Week of Easter - Monday - This is what we believe, this is why we believe it, now go do it.

The acts of the Apostles offers a beautiful image of a woman growing in Faith. “A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.”

What does it mean to grow in faith?  Part of it is opening up our hearts and paying greater attention to preaching and teaching.  We may think we know everything that the Catholic Church teaches, but you’d be surprised what you will discover upon picking up the Catechism.  For Catholics who have been around for a while, it may not be about learning new things, but coming to a greater and richer depth of faith.

I saw a wonderful picture on the internet, recently.  It was of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.  And underneath the pictures was a caption.  Pope John Paul II taught us what we believe, Pope Benedict XVI taught us why we believe it, and Pope Francis shows us what it means to live it.

Pope John Paul II gave us the Catechism.  He taught us what we believe.  As one of the most prolific Pope’s in all the history of the Church, John Paul II really presented the truths of the faith to the modern world.  And he repeated over and over, do not be afraid to have faith, do not be afraid to open up your heart to Jesus Christ.  At the 2002 World Youth Day he said, ““To believe in Jesus is to accept what he says, even when it runs contrary to what others are saying. It means rejecting the lure of sin, however attractive it may be, in order to set out on the difficult path of the Gospel virtues.”

Pope Benedict taught us why we believe.  He stressed the importance of having a “clear faith based on the Creed of the Church” in order to anchor us to Christ, so that we are not tossed about by the winds and waves of relativism.  He gave us the Year of Faith so that we can deepen our understanding and conviction.

And now, Pope Francis.  He has already enamored the world by his humble yet vibrant charity.  Yet, even he has talked about the dangers of lukewarm faith that desires to build the church in its own image instead of the truth of Jesus Christ as taught by the Magisterium.    He warns against the temptation to “whisper against Jesus because he is too demanding”.  The Pope realizes that true faith and true love does demand something from us.

May God’s Spirit help our hearts to be attentive to all of the demands of faith this day, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.