Deeply Rooted Faith

It was there above my head. A small red button. All I needed to do was push it. All I had to do was reach up. But I couldn't do it. My arms wouldn't move. We were visiting Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side. My daughter and son-in-law suggested we go on the sky wheel for some great views of the falls. The sky wheel is a rather large Ferris wheel that carries you 175 feet above the ground for scenic views of the falls and the surrounding area. We bought the tickets, and as I watched people getting on the line and later off the ride with smiles and amazing pictures I was excited. I knew it was safe and sturdy. But all that changed in a matter of seconds. We boarded our gondola and I joked with my son-in-law about being scared. We posed for a fake picture. Then the ride moved. Only an eighth of a turn, to allow more riders to board and a sudden rush of fear filled me. I lost all faith in being kept safe. A grabbed hold of my seat and froze. For a moment my family thought I was joking. They soon realized I was not and my wife pushed the button I wanted so hard to reach, but couldn't. The ride reversed and I got off and scurried away to a far bench to regroup while my family finished the ride.
  I had faith in the ride. It seemed like a great deal of faith. But it was not deeply rooted. At that single moment of doubt when the ride moved, I lost it. This is what Jesus answers his disciples when they ask for more faith in this Sunday's gospel. He tells them of the ability of the faith of a mustard seed. The tiniest faith. The ability to uproot deep rooted trees and cast them aside. The ability to do miracles. You see it is not the amount of faith that helps us continue this journey in Christ's footsteps, it is deep rooted faith. It is a faith that cannot be shaken by misfortune, or fear. It cannot be shaken by a society against it. It is a faith that runs so deep that we realize we can not live without an intimate relationship with God. It is a faith rooted in our rituals. Rooted in prayer. Rooted in the Eucharist.
 But that relationship requires us to use our faith every minute of our days on earth. Like the servant who must wait on his master even after working in the fields, we are called to live our faith in all aspects of our life. We a called to be Catholics at home and at work.  When the day begins and when it ends. When we are alone with God and when we are among God's people. It is deeply rooted by the water of our baptism, the oil of our confirmation and the Eucharistic meal. When the disciples ask,"give us more faith," they really get the answer that it is not only about them, but about God's work for God's people. Whatever we do, it is not for only us, but for those who need to hear and experience the love of God.
  As I found a bench by the sky wheel and caught my breath, I waited for my family and calmed down. As they finally approached, I stood up. My legs had stopped shaking and I was ready to go. Just then a woman approached me. "I want to buy your ticket for that ride," she said. I was perplexed. "Excuse me?" I responded. She said, "I was not sure I could get on that ride. But my husband kept assuring me it would be alright. I was in the gondola behind you and I was extremely nervous. But when I saw you get off, I knew that if I really could not do it, then I could push the button and stop the ride. That confidence allowed me to experience something that may never have happened and I would not have had the confidence without you."
  So you see, nothing we live as God's people is only for us. What we say. What we do. Even what be can't do. It all has an affect on those round us.

-peace