Monday, January 30, 2017

Homily: Monday - 4th Week in OT 2017 - Realization of what is hoped for

Our first reading today is the concluding 8 verses of Hebrew chapters 11. Hebrews 11 is a special chapter, it has been called “the Bible’s great chapter on faith.” For Hebrews 11 begins with that beautiful definition of faith: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Faith is the conviction of the truthfulness of God’s Word, it is staking our lives on his promises, and manifesting in our lives that his promises are real.

After giving this powerful definition of faith, Hebrews 11 gives a sort of roll call of characters—highlighting the great men and women of faith from Israel’s history: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, and Moses.  Our passage today begins saying that if he had time, the author could how faith was heroically manifested in the lives of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel.
God did amazing things through their faith, toppling enemy kingdoms, closing the mouths of lions, turning back foreign invaders, raising the dead.

Whenever we celebrate a saint’s feast day, you know how I love to go into some detail about how faith was lived heroically in the life of the saint. That tradition of meditating on the great characters of faith is evident right here in scripture itself. We’re to be mindful of these great figures because they inspire and challenge to us; they help us to trust that when we respond generously and courageously to the invitation of faith, God does mighty things.

After listing those well-known characters and stories, our passage this morning spoke of “the others”—the nameless faithful, who are known simply for their faith.  Since Hebrews is addressed to those early Jewish converts to Christianity, the mockery and scourging endured certainly could refer to the Maccabean martyrs or the prophet Jeremiah, who was mocked, scourged, beaten, and repeatedly imprisoned. The passion of Our Savior certainly is evoked, as are the sufferings endured by St. Paul. Recall how this letter was written first to those converts who were experiencing similar trials.

Faith is not always easy. How easy it is to doubt God’s providence, particularly when we suffer. How easy it is in the moment of temptation to belittle the importance of faith. But if this chapter teaches us anything, and if the lives of the saints teach us anything is that obedient reliance on God during times of trial can accomplish mighty things.


May our faith be strong this day; may the faith of those heroic men and women from the scriptures and the saints impel us to offer our lives as living sacrifices to the glory of God and salvation of souls. 


That Christians everywhere may grow in the practice of the virtue of faith, firmly believing and living all that God has revealed.

That Christians everywhere may grow in the practice of the virtue of hope, enduring their trials and temptations trusting in the promises of God.


That Christians everywhere may grow in the practice of the virtue of charity, manifesting God’s love through concrete acts of service and compassion to those in need.

For all those who doubt the existence of God, for all those who despair of God’s love, for all those who have fallen away from the Church, for all those who have fallen into mortal sin, for the healing and conversion of all hearts in Christ.

During this Catholic Schools week, for all young people, for their teachers and catechists and parents who are the first teachers of the faith, and that the truth of the faith may be learned, cherished, and practiced in every Catholic school and Christian home.

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