Thought for the Day – 6 November – The Power of Faith Transcends Man’s Strength – St Cyril of Jersualem

Thought for the Day – 6 November –  Wednesday of the Thirty First week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

The Power of Faith Transcends Man’s Strength

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Bishop, Father & Doctor of the Church

An excerpt from the Catecheses, 5

The one word faith can have two meanings.   One kind of faith concerns doctrines  . It involves the soul’s ascent to and acceptance of, some particular matter.   It also concerns the soul’s good, according to the words of the Lord – Whoever hears my voice and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not come to be judged.   And again – He who believes in the Son is not condemned but has passed from death to life.

How great is God’s love for men!   Some good men have been found pleasing to God because of years of work.   What they achieved by working for many hours at a task pleasing to God, is freely given to you by Jesus in one short hour.   For, if you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved and taken up to paradise by Him, just as He brought the thief there.   Do not doubt that this is possible.   After all, He saved the thief on the holy hill of Golgotha because of one hour’s faith, will He not save you too, since you have believed?

The other kind of faith is given by Christ by means of a special grace.   To one wise sayings are given through the Spirit, to another perceptive comments by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing.   Now this kind of faith, given by the Spirit as a special favour, is not confined to doctrinal matters, for it produces effects beyond any human capability.   If a man who has this faith says to this mountain move from here to there, it will move.   For when anybody says this in faith, believing it will happen and having no doubt in his heart, he then receives that grace.

It is of this kind of faith, moreover, that it is said – If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed.   The mustard seed is small in size but it holds an explosive force, although it is sown in a small hole, it produces great branches and when it is grown, birds can nest there.   In the same way faith produces great effects in the soul instantaneously. Enlightened by faith, the soul pictures God and sees Him as clearly as any soul can.   It circles the earth, even before the end of this world, it sees the judgement and the conferring of promised rewards.   So, may you have the faith which depends on you and is directed to God, that you may receive from Him that faith too, which transcends man’s capacity.

“[Lord God] I believe in You, increase my faith.   All my hopes are in You, secure my trust.   I love You, teach me to love You more each day… I adore You as my first beginning, I long for You as my final end.   I praise You as my constant helper and call on You as my loving protector.   Guide me by Your Wisdom, correct me with Your Justice, comfort me with Your Mercy, protect me by Your Power… Lord, enlighten my understanding, enflame my will, purify my heart, sanctify my soul.   Help me to repent of my past sins and to rise above my human weaknesses and to grow stronger as a Christian…”

(from the Universal Prayer by Pope Clement XI (1649-1721))