My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we gather today, on a Saturday, a day we often associate with rest and family, to be nourished by th...
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we gather today, on a Saturday, a day we often associate with rest and family, to be nourished by the Word of God. The readings today offer us a profound and timely message. The first reading from Deuteronomy speaks of a loving command: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength. To not just know His words but to embody them in every moment of our lives—at home, on the road, when we lie down, and when we rise. This is a call to total Fidelity, to being completely and utterly devoted to God in everything we do, not just in this Mass, but in our daily existence.
The Gospel gives us a vivid picture of what happens when we falter. The disciples, despite their closeness to Jesus, couldn’t heal the afflicted boy. Jesus’s response is direct and challenging: "Because of your little Faith." He reminds them, and us, that even a faith the size of a mustard seed can work miracles. This isn't a scolding but an invitation. It's a reminder that we don’t need to be perfect or have a perfect, giant faith. We just need to have a genuine, growing faith, no matter how small it seems.
This brings us to the third word, Fortitude. The story of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, whose memorial we can observe today, is a testament to this. A brilliant woman who sought truth, found it in Christ, and then faced the ultimate persecution, she showed incredible strength. Her fortitude wasn't about being unafraid, but about holding on to her faith in the face of suffering and death. This is the same fortitude we are called to have, whether we are facing the trials of work, the struggles of family life, or the quiet anxieties that can weigh us down.
So, let us carry these three words with us: Faith, Fidelity, and Fortitude. Let us be faithful in our love for God, trusting in a faith, however small, to move the mountains in our lives, and having the fortitude to persevere, knowing that with God, nothing is impossible. Amen.
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