WORDS FROM FATHER YOHANES: The Transforming Power of Fidelity

By Father Yohanes Akoit

Fidelity is an essential aspect of life. It helps human beings form and shape their lives. Without fidelity, life has no structure and no proper direction. This happens because we have inner drives that inspire us to begin something, make commitments, plan for the future, and more. Yet all these inspirations will never reach fulfillment or come into existence without the virtue of fidelity. Therefore, fidelity plays an important role in making possible the things we do. It enables us to complete what we begin and pursue what we dream of, and through it, we shape our lives. It is true that failure will be there, but fidelity helps a person transform their failures into success.

A couple may have love and feel called to begin a family. But if that call is not built on the virtue of fidelity, then their expressions of love and commitment will never truly shape their identity. Here, the virtue of fidelity is not just limited to their promise to remain united and avoid third-party interference. Rather, it becomes part of their mode of being. Each must know their own strengths and weaknesses, inclinations and disinclinations, capacities and limitations, awareness and blind spots, positives and negatives. So, they are called and bound to these realities. And the only way to maintain their relationship is to dedicate themselves and strive to overcome shortcomings and turn them into harmony. Through this, their shared love becomes the effort that shapes their identity and makes their dreams possible. In other words, they give witness and make their identity known to others through their fidelity. Whatever they do in life, whether small or great, will point to their identity and reveal who they are.

Imagine if there is no fidelity in their relationship. There would be no togetherness. If they force themselves to live together, then there will be no harmony; only accusations, frustration in discovering each other’s flaws, blame, suspicion, and more. Their relationship would have no shape. People may see that they are living together, but without mutual understanding and without a willingness to sacrifice, their relationship cannot grow. They are together only for the sake of staying together or just to avoid people’s comments about their separation. Yet there are no peace and no joy. Fidelity, on the other hand, gives continuity to everything they undertake. It helps them navigate life and stimulates their growth. The essence and role of fidelity apply to every aspect of life: practicing faith, friendship, building good habits, studying, working, dreaming for the future, and more. Without fidelity, any commitment we make will never take shape. Our identity becomes floating and blurred. We live unstable lives, jumping from one choice to another, with no certainty.

Jesus, in His time, recognized this tendency in the lives of His disciples. He knew that without fidelity, they would never fully receive God’s grace. That is why Jesus encouraged them to remain faithful to His teachings. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15-21). Here, Jesus awakens them to understand that loving Christ means being faithful to His teaching. Therefore, without fidelity or without being faithful to His word, they could never become true witnesses of Christ. On the contrary, the virtue of fidelity shapes their identity as disciples of Jesus. Learning from this, we too are invited to reflect; we carry many commitments in life. We ask our dear Jesus to grant us the virtue of fidelity, so that every commitment we embrace may truly shape and form our lives. Through this virtue, may our way of living become a witness to Christ before others.

Father Yohanes Akoit is pastor of St. Julian and St. Anthony Catholic churches in Kentucky.