# Pope warns against lukewarm faith: a plea to God
*2016-08-06*

> Bill Young discusses the dangers of being a 'lukewarm' Catholic and shares a personal story about the importance of spiritual wake-up calls.

## The Danger of Lukewarm Faith

I want our family members to have a strong faith and not be lukewarm Catholics. I'll be honest: over eight years ago, I was a lukewarm Catholic myself, and it is not a good place to be. I attended a discipleship retreat at St. Maximo in Kobe, and I believe that put me on the right path. However, we all still have struggles. One of mine is helping my family develop a stronger faith.

My wife goes to church with me every Sunday, but she was like I used to be—a 'Sunday Catholic.' That's where you go to church on Sunday, but that is the last time you think of God or participate in anything else. In my prayers, I asked God for her to have a stronger faith, because we all face a final judgment one day, and we want to be ready for it.

## The Spiritual Midterm Report

My wife recently told me about a very scary dream she had. She was on a kneeler, face down, and felt a blackness go over her. She prayed, and the feeling went away, but she found herself in a situation where people were making fun of her, and she felt anger toward them. 

I look at a dream like that as a 'midday report.' In school, we had mid-term grades and then final grades. The final grade is what counts, but the mid-term tells you where you are heading. It raises the question: is going to Sunday Mass and following the Ten Commandments enough? The Pope has warned against being lukewarm, and Jesus Himself spoke about it. There is much more to our faith than just attending Mass on Sunday.

## A Plea to God

Today we are praying a prayer called 'A Plea to God.' The prayer acknowledges that our hearts are often in deep darkness, struggling between God and Satan. It asks that our hearts not be divided between good and evil, but instead be united to God's light. 

We pray that two conflicting beliefs do not coexist within us—not lies and scrutiny, love and hate, honesty and dishonesty, or humility and pride. We ask for a heart like that of a child, full of peace and a continuous desire for God. We ask for the mercy that helps us see our sins clearly and understand that sin is what renders us impure. We pray to Jesus, our brother, to help us obtain forgiveness from the Father and to fully comprehend the gifts God gives us.

## Practical Steps for Spiritual Growth

I don't want anyone to judge others, but it is good for us to take a mental, emotional, and spiritual 'midday report.' Ask yourself: where do you think you will end up if you don't change? Nothing on this earth—no riches or possessions—is more important than our eternal souls and the souls of our loved ones.

Some people avoid church because they feel they have a personal relationship with God, but that is a mistake. It is through the Church and the Eucharist—the Body and Blood of Christ—that He is alive for us. My number one piece of advice for anyone is to go to Confession. You get a better feeling and great spiritual advice. I also encourage you to receive both the Body and Blood of Christ whenever possible. Whether it is through the common cup or intinction—where the priest dips the Host in the wine—receiving the Eucharist is vital.

*If your spiritual 'mid-report' shows you are lukewarm, now is the time to change your ways through prayer, confession, and the Eucharist to ensure your eternal salvation.*