Not everyone has faith says St. Paul and that is really an understatement. Perhaps considering present circumstances what can be said is hardly anybody has faith. This is coupled with what Jesus said last couple of weeks when he pondered when the Son of man returns will he find faith? It's not looking great. We  complain and yet we know we are becoming an increasingly  secular society (and world for that matter) and we are not doing anything about it.
   In the first reading it gives us a powerful message of the sons who were willing to give their lives before succumbing to the orders of a tyrant ruler who wanted for them to betray their faith. For us eating pork is no problem but the  prohibition for them was an important element of their faith and they upheld it with their lives. One even put his hands and tongue out in defiance of the order. Take my life but not my faith. However what would we do when the world tells us something contrary to our faith? It's a little crude but are we just going to stick our tongue out and put our hands in the air? But not as an act of  defiance but of surrender! Just stand there and allow the world to do circles around us denigrating the faith?
    I hope we have the courage to stand up for our faith especially because it has implications for eternal life.  Perhaps a good starting point is to defend the dignity of marriage as a major part of our faith.  Jesus thought so. His words are very clear and yet we have allowed the world to denigrate marriage. What will the Lord think of those who betray their faith to fit in with the world? We must defend our faith, our participation in eternal life depends on it!