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Be Not Afraid FaithWhen our usual sense of independence and omnipotencecrumbles, we must allow others to carry our burdens andshoulder our responsibilities. Sometimes we must evendepend upon the generosity and commitment of othersfor our faith in God…In the gospel story of the paralyzedman, we hear nothing about his faith. We do not evenhear the exact nature of his ailment, other than the factthat he had to depend on the efforts of others in order tosee Jesus. But we do hear of the great faith of his friendsas the catalyst of his healing.My father used to say that if a loved one lacks hopeand faith, have hope and faith for him. Everyone goesthrough periods of spiritual dryness at one time oranother, even the most “religious” people. They mayfeel strong in their beliefs today, but that doesn’t meanthat they won’t be tempted and tested tomorrow.Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whom the Vatican iscurrently considering for sainthood, made headlinesnot long ago when it was revealed that she not onlyhad to struggle to hold onto her faith, but sometimesfelt completely bereft. In a recently released letter,she wrote, “I am told God lives in me – and yet thereality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is sogreat that nothing touches my soul.” In another lettershe confessed, “I can’t tell you how dark it is in my1