Message from our Pastor

The Apostles said to the Lord: "Increase our faith."

On this 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, I would like to invite you to reflect on the Apostles’ plea and petition to the Lord that their faith be increased.

We notice here that the Apostles’ plea assumes that they already have faith and that their faith can grow. That’s very important, right? Faith is something that we can possess, but it’s an organic thing. It’s a living thing. And just like living bodies can grow from being children to adolescents to being adults, so too, our faith.

Faith is absolutely essential in the life of a disciple of the Lord Jesus. It is the foundation of our Christian life. To come to church every week certainly requires faith. Whether it is a strong faith or a weak faith, a deep faith or shallow faith, that’s another matter. But it will certainly require faith to come to Church week in, week out and to pray for our needs and offer up our petitions.

As Christians, it is faith that keeps us going. We remain strong, and hopeful in time of darkness and difficulties because we have faith that the saving power and loving kindness of God is at work in our lives. And precisely that’s what St. Paul reminds Timothy in today’s Second Reading. St. Paul encourages Timothy, his son in the Lord and a coworker, to stir up in him the gift of faith received through the imposition of his hands. He reminds Timothy that through the gift of faith he did not receive a spirit of cowardice but of power, love and self-control.

Yes, faith gives us strength in temptation, perseverance in trials and gratitude in prosperity. Faith humbles us to trust in the saving power of God working in our midst. Or in the words of Saint Augustine: “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”

At this point, we can understand better the Apostles’ plea to the Lord to increase their faith. To increase faith means to make it capable of understanding that God does not abandon us, even if we go through dark moments and hardships in our life. It means also to be convinced that as bad as we might have it, we are not alone. God is with us; He accompanies us in each step of our life, sometimes encouraging us mysteriously so that we might not give up on life; at other times, consoling us openly through the help of friends and relatives so that we remain serene in spite of our suffering and difficult situation.

So, “Lord, increase our faith” is a beautiful prayer that we can always repeat everyday. It reminds us about the power of Faith. It reminds us of “What Faith can Do” in our life.

Blessings, Fr. Leo

Everybody falls sometimes. Gotta find the strength to rise From the ashes and make a new beginning Anyone can feel the ache. You think it's more than you can take. But you're stronger, stronger than you know. Don't you give up now. The sun will soon be shining You gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains Hope that doesn't ever end even when the sky is falling. I've seen miracles just happen, silent prayers get answered Broken hearts become brand new. That's what faith can do It doesn't matter what you've Heard. Impossible is not a Word It's just a reason for someone not to try. Everybody's scared to death when they decide to take that step Out on the wáter it'll be alright. Life is so much more than what your eyes are seeing You will find your way If you keep believing That's what faith can do: overcome the odds. You do have a chance. When the world says you can't, it'll tell you that you can!