S1 Ep. 31: Lord, Increase My Faith

Transcript

Carol Vassar:

From SS. Isidore and Maria Parish in Glastonbury, Connecticut, I'm Carol Vassar, and this is Living in Faith, Hope, and Love. Each week, our Pastor, Father Mark Suslenko, delves into Scripture, shares insights from the saints, prophets, and theologians, and discusses practical ways to cultivate faith, strengthen hope, and embody love in the world around us. Through his reflections and spiritual encouragement, this podcast aims to inspire you to live your Catholic faith with joy and purpose. Welcome. 

In this episode, Father Mark invites us to reflect on one of the most essential questions we can ask as Christians: Who am I to become? Not simply “what do I want to achieve,” but “who do I want to be” in light of Christ’s life and teachings. It’s a question that challenges us, humbles us, and ultimately calls us to deeper faith, because we cannot become like Christ on our own. We need God’s help.

“Lord, Increase My Faith,” by Father Mark S. Suslenko, Pastor, SS. Isidore and Maria Parish, Glastonbury, Connecticut

Father Mark Suslenko:

As Christians, there is a question that all of us must ask and answer as often as we can, regardless of how old we are, our station in life, or the accomplishments we have made. And the question is this: Who am I to become? Who am I to become? 

Now we're accustomed to asking and answering a question that's similar to that when we're going through the educational system, and we're venturing into some career choices. We ask ourselves: What do I want to become? But this question is a little bit different. Who do I want to become? 

Now, for the Christian, there's a particular way to answer that question, but most of us, in pondering a response, may be thinking of our accomplishments in life, the legacy that we've left, whether people think well of us or not. Whether as I go about the journey of my life, I've sewn positive seeds, have loved as much as I could love, and done some good for myself or others. Responses such as that, however, only touch the tip of the iceberg and can actually lead us away from the kind of answer God wishes us to provide. 

Who do I want to become? For the Christian, the response has to do with the founder of our faith, Jesus Christ. 

St. Paul reminds us often that through the waters of baptism, we put on Christ. That it is the vocation of the Christian to become like Christ, so that you and I can carry on his mission in the world, to do as he did, and to speak as he did. And so for each one of us gathered here today, when we're asked that question, "Who do I want to become?", as a committed Christian, the response is like Christ. Like Christ.

So we listen to what Jesus said, and we observe what Jesus did. We hear him say to us that it is in weakness that I find strength; that those who are first will find themselves last; that the poor have a special place in the kingdom of God; that mercy and forgiveness are hallmarks of who you are; that when someone hurts you on one cheek, turn and offer them the other. Offer no resistance to injury and forgive those who hurt you, even if it's deeply. We hear him say that those who want to hold on to their life will lose their life, and it's only in dying that we find the truth of who we are. 

As we listen to those words and we ponder that message, we have to honestly look at ourselves directly in our soul and say, Is that the person I really want to become? Do I truly, with my whole mind, spirit, soul, and body, believe what Jesus has said and what Jesus does? And if we do, if we stand before our Lord with a positive yes, I want to become like you, then there's something we realize about ourselves right away? We cannot do that without God's help. There is no way we can achieve those goals through our own efforts and merits. We need the help of faith and the help of God. 

You see, the apostles stumbled upon this themselves. They listened to Jesus firsthand. They watched how he interacted with folks. How he resolved conflicts. How he welcomed the sinner. How he broke the mold on certain traditions and behaviors. How he sat down with the outcast and those marginalized.

He heard them say, "You know, if somebody wrongs you forgive and forgive and forgive unconditionally, because love is unconditional." The disciples heard this, and they knew who they were as people, how broken they were, just like you and I do. And their responses, as ours ought to be, "Lord, we want to do this. We want to become like you, but increase our faith cuz we're weak."

And so when we desire to put on Christ, we know what we need. We need God. And so, as we find ourselves immersed in the world and we encounter conflict, rather than seek a solution based on dominance and power, we find a path to peace. 

Lord, increase my faith. 

When we find ourselves struggling with our own mortality, or with the mortality of someone we love, and we struggle with our own fear of death. To lose that fear of death. Lord, increase my faith. 

When we find ourselves hurt so badly that the pain runs through our entire body, it goes to the depths and core of our soul. Have been wounded in what can be perceived as an unforgivable way, but yet we know that we are called to forgive. Lord, increase my faith.

When we go about the business of our lives, and so many things can capture our attention, can find a place within our purview of priorities, but we know that first and foremost comes our relationship with God. That keeping holy the Lord's day is above and beyond all else. But what I'm tempted to put something else in place of God, Lord, increase my faith.

When I find myself becoming a little bit self-focused, a little bit more greedy, a little bit more gluttonous, wanting more for myself than what you perhaps also deserve, and I find myself losing track of my need to work for justice. Lord, increase my faith. 

As I find myself laboring more for the kingdom of this world than for the kingdom of God. Lord, increase my faith.

When I find myself going through a rough patch in my life and I'm at a point where I can't control what's happening to me and it's beyond my grasp, but yet I'm so reluctant to let go and let God. Lord, increase my faith.

When I come across the path of a person who is just so difficult to love, either because of who they are or what they have done, but I know that I'm called to love unconditionally. Lord, increase my faith.

As I realize that I meant to be of service to others, that the concerns of my brothers and sisters are more important than my own, but yet I struggle with my own selfishness and self-focusness, Lord, increase my faith.

When I find myself forgetting that I am the most grievous of sinners, in need of God's mercy and forgiveness. Lord, increase my faith. 

When I find myself resisting the path to suffering, afraid to be inconvenienced, afraid to feel discomfort. Lord, increase my faith. 

When I find myself struggling with ridicule, facing unpopularity because of what I believe, Lord, increase my faith. 

As I find myself falling into hopelessness and despair, and failing to trust, Lord, increase my faith.

You see, as Christians, we know who we are meant to become. But yet, an even more important question that we also must ask and answer is, who have we become? Is who we have become a mirror image of who we want to become? 

You see, when it comes down to the end of our earthly lives, and we close our eyes in death, we fall into the arms of God, the one like whom we shall become, and we realize, at that point, that we become exactly what we've always wanted to be.

Carol Vassar:

Father Mark Suslenko is the pastor of SS. Isidore and Maria Parish in Glastonbury, Connecticut. If you like what you've heard today, please subscribe to Living in Faith, Hope, and Love on your favorite podcast app, and take a moment to leave a review.

SS. Isidore and Maria is an active parish community, so whether you’re a long-time parishioner or are just getting to know us through this podcast, we welcome you to join us at Masses or any of our other community events and services. Visit our parish website - isidoreandmaria.org - for a full schedule of Masses, services and other happenings. That's isidoreandmaria.org. We're also active on Facebook and Instagram.

On behalf of Father Mark, I'm Carol Vassar, and we thank you for listening to this episode of Living in Faith, Hope, and Love.