Growth in the Faith

In the Catholic Peace Weekly a Catholic University priest professor writes about his precious faith.

He hears a lot of people say that faith is difficult. There are times when faith feels like a burden or bondage. Especially in today's world where there are so many things to do and food to eat, having to set aside a certain amount of time for Mass on Sundays is a bit of a concern.

 

When he visits a parish  to help with the Sacraments or special lectures, he meets many people who have doubts about their faith. There is no change, no fun, like a squirrel running on a treadmill, so the thoughts  about whether they should give up their faith. Some people go to confession, but they confess the same sins every time, and they feel skeptical because there is no improvement. The priest jokingly says: "Wouldn't committing the same sin every time be better than committing a new sin every time?", but that is no answer to the problem experienced.

 

There are many people who have conflicts with their children, spouses, or parents because of their faith. Seeing children who do not go to church— I wonder if I am raising them correctly. The guilt of not raising a child well in faith becomes a burden for some people for the rest of their lives. In addition to the religious education of children, there are more and more cases of discord or friction in families due to faith. Even if it is a common phenomenon, it is difficult to shake off the anxiety that comes when thinking about children, spouses, or parents who do not go to church.

 

Another reason why faith is difficult is because of the faith itself. What faith demands is not unusually difficult. When he was studying in France, a professor priest said this: "Being a Christian is  difficult and a long-term task." To be a Christian, you have to endure many inconveniences. This is because one pursues values that are different from those of the world. The ethical life taught by faith is far from, and sometimes conflicts with, what is accepted in society. Same-sex marriage, capital punishment, abortion, euthanasia, etc., there are many social problems in our society that conflict with faith.

 

The difficulty of faith is not only the case with lay believers. One day, he went to the parish with a senior priest to help with the Sacraments, and he heard him say this: "I help with the sacrament of confession every time during this period of the year but people work hard to come and receive the sacraments, but I think there is a limit to everything." He knew that he had a conflict with the priesthood, but after a while he heard that he had left the priesthood. It was a big shock.

 

He also personally went through many difficulties. Once, after joining the seminary, he felt skeptical because the ideals he had and the reality faced at the seminary were too far apart, and the seminary priests seemed unwilling to change or renew themselves. He met Father Vincent, a member of the Paris Foreign Missions Society, who came to visit him he spent several days with him, and finally he brought up his concerns. The priest listened intently to his story and then said: “Paul,  I understand that feeling. I have times like that too. But wouldn’t it be a little better to see the students entrusted to you changing a little every day?” These words of Father Vincent opened my eyes wide. Yes. The students entrusted to me are living with me, changing and growing, but I had a sense of skepticism by only looking at the 'ideal' that was too far away.

 

"There is nothing wrong with worrying about your faith or having difficulties. Rather, it would be more dangerous  without having conflicts and questions about faith  All theologians and pastors have gone through that path. He hopes you will also have the courage to keep asking and seeking about your faith and moving forward." Difficulties experienced in faith may vary, but usually arise in the process of finding one's faith. And one day he realizes that the difficulty has become a great nourishment for the growth of faith.  

 

When faced with such difficulties, the stories of those who have walked the path first help a lot. The Bible also contains stories of people who walked such a path, not perfect heroes of faith. In fact, if you look around you, there are many ‘adults next door’ who have grown up overcoming the difficulties of faith. We too can be the adults next door. If only we could stay within the church community and take good care of the faith we have received.