Word to the Wise
Saturday, February 17, 2007 - Sixth Saturday in Ordinary Time
[Hebrews 11:1-7 and Mark 9:2-13]Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, that what is visible came into being through the invisible.......Without faith it is impossible to please [God], for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
For the past week or so I have been reflecting here on the significance of certain lessons contained in the Book of Genesis. It wasn't so much the characters as it was the situation that offered wisdom to us. Today, however, a New Testament document, reflecting on Old Testament characters, calls our attention to a reality about them that might seem obvious, but because obvious perhaps not occurring to our notice! That reality is faith! Two of the three heroes mentioned in this passage have been part of our meditation: Abel and Noah! [Enoch I'll have to leave for another time!]. Hebrews refers to them as people of faith. They did what faith prompted them to do, even though they could not be certain of the results. Faith is not simply some human psychological need with its origin in the human psyche. Faith is a gift from God and as such is an experience of God. It is the realization of the deepest destiny of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God. As the Letter to the Hebrews states: ...anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him..... This approach arises out of the human spirit inspired by God's abiding presence in all of reality. St. Paul and St. Thomas Aquinas both call attention to the presence of the Creator in all of creation and that we humans, as rational creatures, are fully gifted with the ability to recognize that presence. Some Christians find it difficult to read the Old Testament for various reasons. I urge anyone to read about the characters described in chapter 11 of the Letter to the Hebrews and to see the faith that inspired these characters to persevere. Our own faith in Jesus is an experience of Jesus and a gift that we continually unwrap in a lifetime. The sad thing to me is to see the gift never opened or hear its very existence denied. AMEN
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