"o come, all ye faithful"
"Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech." —Jeremiah 7:28
Our heavenly Father is the Faithful One. Jesus Christ is "the faithful Witness" (Rv 1:5), "The Faithful and True" (Rv 19:11). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, that is, of faithfulness (see Jn 16:13). The triune God is perfectly faithful (see 1 Thes 5:24). Even "if we are unfaithful He will still remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." It is God's nature to be faithful.
God calls us to be holy, to be like Him. That means that we must be faithful. Have you been faithful to your baptismal promises? This is the fundamental responsibility to which we must be faithful. Have you been faithful to your vocations as married, lay single, religious, parent, child, worker in the world, or church worker? Have you been faithful to the Church, including to your bishops, Pope, pastors, and brothers and sisters in Christ? Have you been faithful in keeping your word and your promises to those people the Lord has given you to love?
If you have been faithful, give God the glory, for it is only by His grace that you have been faithful. If you have not been faithful, repent, go to Confession, receive God's mercy, and become faithful. On Judgment Day, the Lord wants to say to each of us: "Well done! Good and faithful servant" (Mt 25:21, 23, our transl).
Prayer: Father, this Lent make me faithful in life, till death.
Promise: "But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out devils, then the reign of God is upon you." —Lk 11:20
Praise: Sts. Perpetua and Felicity had both given birth shortly before their martyrdom. They loved Jesus so much that they did not deny Him even for the chance to stay alive for the sake of their infants. God Himself reassured these young mothers in prison that their infants would be raised in the faith.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape on Pride and Faith on audio AV 64-1 or video V-64.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, August 18, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 25, 2001