The fruit of prayer...

"The fruit of prayer is faith.

If we pray, then we will believe.

If we believe, then we will love -

because the fruit of faith is love

and the fruit of love is service..."

~*~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta ~*~

I love the fact that it's 6:30 a.m., and I am able to sit in silence here in my apartment and meditate on these daily reflections provided by The Year of Faith Companion (Magnificat). Such a beautiful and peaceful start to the day!

And I particularly believe that Mother Teresa stated these thoughts so eloquently. In fact, she goes on in the reflection to say, "Faith is the most beautiful gift God can give to a human being - to believe that he Is, and that the Church Is..." And I believe that too.

But what is faith? Yes, sometimes it is hard to define, but it, too, can be found in the Bible: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen." (Heb 11:1) 

So, what is faith? It's keeping our minds and hearts set on God, while firmly believing in God's miracles. As I try to explain to my students - we can't scientifically explain a lot of things that God does - that's why they are mysteries. 

But, as Mother Teresa pointed out, if we pray, then we will believe, and when we believe, we will love.

Let us strive for these beliefs and actions as we go about our day.