Wis 18:6-9
Ps 33
Heb 11:1-2, 8-19
Lk 12:32-48
We heard in the Letter to the Hebrews, "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen."
These are important words that remind us what faith is, and, with just a little thought, what faith is not. True faith is not dependent on the sciences. Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration. It will always remain a mystery beyond the reach of historical reconstruction, scientific explanation, or geographic verification. Faith is not unquestioning, pious, or naive either.
It is not visiting the Mountain of the Transfiguration to see specifically where Jesus stood or to kiss where he might have been thought to stand at the place of the Ascension. There are some things we can never know. Faith continues despite lack of proof.
Both the scientifically skeptical and the unquestioningly pious must learn to live with reality. They must learn to live, not only with things not seen, but with things that will never be seen, knowable, or open to any kind of proof. Faith is radical trust in God’s goodness and guiding presence, even in the midst of trial and struggle. Faith is not the light at the end of the tunnel. It is the light in the tunnel. It is the light that allows us to travel through the tunnel and come out on the other side. Faith is listening for and following the soft voice that may be obscured by the chaos of the present moment.
The reading from Hebrews gives a short biography of Abraham, our father in Faith. Because of faith he left home and all that was familiar even though he did not know where he was to go. In faith he accepted that he would be the father of a nation despite his and his wife Sara’s ages. In faith he was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac who was the fulfillment of God’s promise of generativity. It is an astonishing story. Faith always entails a degree of uncertainty. That uncertainty is highlighted in the gospel. The Gospel is disconcerting. It is less comforting and more of a warning about our responsibilities.
Jesus reminded His disciples to be aware of their responsibilities at all times when he told them, “But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the servants . . . ,to eat . . . and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and unknown hour. He will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful.”
Many parents have had the experience of coming home sooner than expected
to find the kids doing what they were told not to do, partying, drinking, or any of a number of other untrustworthy behaviors. The situation is a staple of many movies. There might have been a shocked silence, rage,tears, or promises after the fact. The children betrayed the parents’ trust. It could take years for it to be reestablished.
Jesus concluded with, "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded." We have been entrusted with much:the Gospel, the sacraments, and the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. We will be held accountable if we do not use and learn from them.
We show our trust in God in how we respond to the gifts we have been given,
how we use the time and opportunities in life to grow in the face of adversity, even when we face our own death or the death of one whom we love. It is not a matter of having been perfect. It is a matter of having held to the faith and used what we have been given.
We should not be caught by surprise like the servants in the gospel, or the kid whose parents come home earlier than expected. We should live each day as if we were preparing to meet the Lord. so that we might sing with the psalmist:
"Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our hope in you."
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One afternoon in Ljubljana I went walking with the camera with the intention of converting everything I shot into black and whtie. It was a great day. Loved the jazz quartet I ran into on one of the bridges.
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