FAITHFUL IN ALL WE DO
Our faithfulness brings us much peace. We read this in
today's Psalm, "The Lord speaks peace to His people" (Ps 85:9).
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
Today's Gospel of Luke
contains a lesson on faithfulness. Why is faithfulness so important to our
heavenly Father? For one, it's the foundation for any lasting and meaningful
relationship. Faithfulness or fidelity allows us to persevere in living out an
unswerving commitment. The Lord Jesus is committed to us in a bond of
unbreakable love and fidelity. Faithfulness is a key character trait of God and
one that He expects of us as well. God gives the grace and the strength to be
faithful. He also rewards faithfulness!
Being faithful
challenges us to stay the course and see the task to its completion. I read
today about the life of Cal Ripen, an American baseball player for the
Baltimore Orioles. He is a sports hero and a legend to many simply because he
always showed up for the game and gave his best. He didn't miss one game in
sixteen years of playing ball! In 1983, he hurt his hand sliding on artificial
turf and was unable to grip the bat at first; he somehow gritted his teeth and
got five hits that night, two of them home runs. Wow!
God loves
faithfulness. When we are faithful in little tasks, we learn to be faithful in
the bigger and more important responsibilities entrusted to us. Our
faithfulness brings us much peace. We read this in today's Psalm, "The
Lord speaks peace to His people" (Ps 85:9). Peace is a blessing! Peace
brings us health of mind and body, and unity in our families and community.
Peace offers prosperity in our society. This is what we need to strive for with
the help of God.
St. Paul brings the
vision of all this even closer, assuring us that Jesus Christ "came and
preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for
through Him we both have access in One Spirit to the Father" (Eph
2:17-18). The result is a union beyond anything that we could hope for or even
imagine, we are no longer "strangers and sojourners", but fellow
citizens.
Have faith in all you
do!