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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