"Faith is one of the three cardinal virtues among faith, hope and love" [1 Corinth 13:13]

Faith in God is the assurance in the infinite power of God. It is the confidence that all things are possible through God's grace. Through faith we become partakers in the infinite power of God.

Faith is not merely an intellectual acceptance of certain facts of God. It works miracles and transforms the performer who has faith. Our Lord says "Truly I say to you, he who believes is in me, will also do the works that I do and greater works than these will he do; because I go to the Father" [St. John 14:12] The reason why miracles are not common in these days, is that we don't have enough faith. Let us therefore examine how far faith. Let us therefore examine how far faith is necessary in our day-to-day life.

1. The Need of Faith:
   Again and again we find our Lord strengthening people in faith, before working miracles. This shows that faith is a pre-requisite for miracles. The healing of deaf and dumb man is a good example for this. That person was taken away from the crowd to a lonely place, in order to help him to concentrate on what Jesus was doing. Jesus put his fingers into his ears, spat and touched His tongue. Jesus then looked up and said, "Epatha" [St. Mark 7:43-33] The deaf and dumb man could feel the touch of Jesus and see Jesus speaking. This created a faith in that person.

   On another occasion Jesus kept silent when two blind men followed Him crying, "Have mercy on us". When they reached a house Jesus asked them, what they wanted and said, "Do you believe that I can do this?". They replied saying "Yes Lord". Then Jesus touched their eyes saying, "According to your faith, let it be done to you". [St. Matthew 9:28-29]

   The father of the epileptic boy requested our Lord to heal his son saying, "If you can do anything, have pity on us and help us". [St. Matthew 9:22] Our Lord's reply was "All things are possible to him who believes" [St. Matthew 9:23] The boy was then healed.

   Before raising up Lazarus from the dead, Jesus asked to remove the stone from the mouth of the tomb. Martha then objected saying that there would be foul smell. Jesus then said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God? [St. John 11:40]

   Lack of faith results in the loss of power. St. Peter while walking on water, lost faith when he saw the storm and waves. As a result, he began to sink. Our Lord raised him up saying, "O man of little faith! Why did you doubt?" [St. Matthew 14:31]

2. How to gain faith:
   We will have faith in God when we have the right relationship with Him. Our Lord says, "If you abide in me and my words abide in you." [St. John 15:7] When we love God, with all our heart, and with all our mind, and love our neighbors, we will have the fullness of faith in God and every thing will be possible for us.

   Our Lord had the assurance of the presence of the Father as He was pleasing the Father always. Our Lord said, "He who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone for I always do what is pleasing to Him" [St. John 8:29] He did not say that since the Father is good, He has not left the son alone. He said that since the son always pleased the Father, Father has not left the son alone. In a similar manner when we do things pleasing to God, we will have the confidence that God will never leave us alone. We need this kind of faith. The Psalmist says, "I keep the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall be moved." [Psalm 16:8]

3. Faith in the Promise of God, regarding the life after death:
   On the eve of His death our Lord gave us assurance of the Father's mansions in the world to come. He said, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. For in my father's house are many rooms, if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself that where I am, you may also." [St. John 14:1-3]

   St. Paul says, "For this sight momentary affliction is preparing for us, an eternal weight of glory, beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen, but to things what are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal. [2 Corinth 4:17-18] On another occasion St. Paul describes the heavenly bliss God has prepared for His beloved ones. "What no eye has seen nor ear has heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him." [1 Corinth 2:9] Hence no one should lose faith even in the midst of the worst of sufferings.

4. Assurance of God's Goodness and Power:
   God has given us the unfailing promise that He will never forsake anyone who comes to Him. Our Lord has said, "Him who cometh to me I will in no-wise cast out. [St. John 6:3-7] He has also said, "Heaven and earth will pass away; but my words will not pass away." [St. Mark 24:35]

   Our Lord speaks of the perfect love of God even for sinners. The realization of God's love should make us repent and love God. Our Lord says, "God makes His sun rise on the evil and good and sends rain on the just and unjust." [St. Matthew 5:45] God speaks through prophet Jeremiah as follows. "I will make an everlasting covenant that I will not turn away from doing good to them and I will put the fear of me in their hear hearts that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and I will plant them in the land in faithfulness, with all my heart and soul." [Jeremiah 32:40-41] Here God is speaking about the unworthy and sinful people.

   Our Lord's work of salvation is on a personal basis also. St. Peter says, "God having raised up His servant (Jesus Christ] sent Him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness. [Acts 3:26]

5. Faith without work is futile:
   St. James says, "What does it profit my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can his faith save him? ...So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead. ...Even the demons believe and shudder...For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, the faith apart from works is dead." [St. James 2: 14-26]

   Our Lord says that even those who prophesy and work miracles in the name of God, cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven, if they do not repent and produce the fruits of the spirit. Our Lord says, on that day many will say to me Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and do many works in your name? And then will I declare unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.

Do we realize the huge amount of loss the world is incurring on account of our lack of faith? Let us therefore try to lead a life always pleasing to God, filled with faith.