My reflection today is centered on how to keep our faith alive, especially in our current challenging world. We need not bother ourselves rehearsing the theological definition of faith for we already know that faith is a theological virtue alongside hope and charity which are infused by God into our souls, allowing us to act in accordance with his will.

These virtues guide us in our relationship with God and our interactions with others, thus forming the foundation of a moral life (CCC 1812). When we fail to nurture our faith actively, it can become lukewarm, leading to disillusionment and backslide and this may equally lead to our being guilty of the charge in Revelation 3:15-16 which states: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

Besides, keeping our faith alive in this contemporary epoch can be challenging. Life's adversities, such as loss, disappointment, or personal crises, can shake even the strongest beliefs. In our rapidly changing world, the clash of ideas and beliefs can lead to doubt and confusion. Furthermore, societal pressures and the influence of secularism can contribute to a sense of isolation for those who hold onto their faith. But amid all these turmoils we shall reflect on the concrete and practical ways we could strive to keep our faith alive.

One of the most important means of faith sustenance is through cultivating a prayerful lifestyle. Luke 18:1 admonishes us to pray always, and not lose heart and we know that prayer is our means of communicating with God. How can we assume that we have a relationship with God without frequently communicating with him? Reading and reflecting daily on the Bible is another practical way. 2 Timothy 3:16 states that “All Scripture is God-inspired and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness,” hence the ignorance of the Scripture translates roughly to an ignorance of God. In addition to Scripture reading, reading other spiritual materials like writings of the Church Fathers, Catechism of the Catholic Church, and contemporary authors can help to inspire and deepen our faith.

Further, we can step up our faith through participation in the Sacraments, regularly attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist, and particularly frequenting the Sacrament of Reconciliation to maintain a clear conscience. More so, we ought to engage actively in our faith community and our parish groups to build relationships with our fellow Christians and we can regularly volunteer for church activities or outreach programs as a means of living out our faith through action.

Practicing charity and engaging in acts of kindness and services for the sake of God is another way of embodying Christ's love in our interactions and deepening our faith. Charity (love) is faith in action. James 2:17 regarding this states that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Keeping our faith alive is an ongoing journey that requires intentionality and commitment. It is a dynamic process that involves navigating challenges, seeking Christian support, and embracing growth and maturity. Ultimately, we ought to strive to keep our faith aglow because a living faith is a powerful catalyst for personal transformation and a source of hope for both the individual Christian and the wider Christian community.

Finally, we ought to keep in mind the continuity of our Christian faith as we work assiduously to hand over this faith our fathers handed on to us in sweat and blood, down to the next generation. It is to all of us Christians that Christ addresses the question in Luke 18:8 thus: “… when the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?”

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