Faith is not a Buzzword

Buzzwords are interesting. They tend to dominate various spaces in our lives. We hear them constantly at work and on social media. At one point, a lot of these words, which hold strong meaning and brought clarity, have lost their sting. Various words like “synergy,” “journey” and “climate” are all strong words, but when they are used too often, or as vague definitions, they fall short of what they once conveyed. Words that once brought clarity, strength and motivation, can slowly become words that are overused, weak and dry.


In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus doesn’t shy away from proclaiming the power of faith. He explains that even a little faith holds tremendous power, by declaring that faith the size of a mustard seed is enough to do great, beautiful and unimaginable things.


I ask this without judgment, because God knows this has happened to me, but have there been periods in your life where the word “faith” became simply a buzzword for you? Unfortunately, I would never be surprised to hear even the most holy person downplay the strength of faith in their lives. It’s not uncommon for good, holy people to have periods where they downplay the power of faith in their own lives.


So what is faith? According to the Catechism, it is one of the three Theological Virtues. It is through the gift of faith that “we believe in God and all that He has revealed to us, because He is Truth itself.” This is quite a powerful definition of faith; hopefully it holds that power and not become a buzzword in our lives.


It is through this faith that we believe in our God, His love and His promises for us. This is why it is dangerous to allow faith to become a buzzword. It is through this same faith that God becomes clear to us and it is through faith that we find meaning in our existence and embrace who we are in light of the creator. We are heirs of the kingdom and faith reveals that to us. That is a big deal. 

So friends, don’t let faith become a buzzword in your life. Surround yourself with people who convey the true meaning in that word. Embrace your God who is committed to you and does not water down the promises given to you through faith. Most importantly, use faith so powerfully that others will see the beauty and power in it so they can encounter their loving God.


God Bless,

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Brett Becker
Youth and Young Adult Minister
JoinGivi

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