A Reflection for Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Find today’s readings here.
“Brothers and sisters:
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, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.” (Heb 11:1-7)
Have faith. It’s a cliche we often say or have been told when struggling with a difficult decision, job loss or less than encouraging diagnosis from a doctor. But how do we really grow and nourish our faith? To begin, you can’t have faith without a relationship with God. How can we believe in something we cannot see or touch?
Within the last six months I have seen both ends of the spectrum of faith. To begin, I was utterly moved to witness deep and profound faith by the thousands when I journeyed with 40 others on an America pilgrimage to Lourdes this past September. Among other sights, participating in the torchlight procession with thousands of pilgrims, malades, their caretakers and others really renewed my faith and hope. It was breathtaking to be surrounded by so many Catholics who had come from all corners of the world seeking hope for things that so many others might see as impossible or hopeless.
If we are able to nourish our faith, even in times when it doesn’t make sense, we should all be able to better enjoy and embrace the countless graces God has given us and more easily navigate difficult times with him by our side.
On the flip side, I have struggled (or should I say battled) nearly every Tuesday afternoon to get my two young sons to religious education classes. I understand it’s not the most compelling place to be after just spending an entire day in the classroom, coupled with the fact that they would rather be outside playing with friends and that learning about our Catholic faith is complex, to say the least. However, each week, with some coaxing and doughnuts from my friend who carpools with us, I know that this education is an investment in building the faith that will shore them up for all the highs and lows of their lives. Over time, I hope that they learn that, through a relationship with God, they will be able to make peace with things that don’t make sense, and that they will also know that God’s love is infinitely greater than my maternal outpouring of it.
If we are able to nourish our faith, even in times when it doesn’t make sense, we should all be able to better enjoy and embrace the countless graces God has given us and more easily navigate difficult times with him by our side.
How can each of us nourish our faith today? While there is no single answer to this question, we can do things such as look for God in all things, pray and maintain an open dialogue with him and foster a faith-filled home, even if it means a weekly struggle.
