Calming Life’s Storms: The Role of Faith

Greetings on this the Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75; Mark 4:35-41

Faith is Trust

By faith is our topic.

By faith the world is recreated and the Spirit renews the Face of the Earth. Faith is simply put trusting the Lord God is truthful in his promises of help and able to do the same.

Good reference on Faith: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/catechism/index.cfm?recnum=232

1. By faith Abraham obeyed.
2. By faith he sojourned.
3. By faith he received power.
4. By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac.

All these (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Sarah) died in faith.

The Calming of a Storm at Sea

A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

Faith and the Test of Faith

A proper study of faith would compare and contrast the single question of Zechariah (LK 1:18) and the question of Mary (LK 1:34). Perhaps from the exterior you cannot find a difference?

• “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
• But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”

The Angel Gabriel could tell the difference.Don’t worry, the Lord favored both of them, we are comparing and ranking responses.

Answer: To KNOW or to BE.

To know is limited faith in the face of trouble. To be is the wonder of what is to come in the right ways.

Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil (1 Thess 5:21-22).

Tomorrow is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (LK 2:22ff). Read/listen carefully to the words of Simeon and Anna. See how their difficulty and sorrows are not chains of imprisonment. Rather, in faith, they look forward to the promises with a full heart.

Conclusion

Have faith. The Lord is here journeying with us. Since the very beginning. The Garden of Eden was closed and guarded (Gen 3:24). But remember, the LORD left the garden too! It is empty!! He left with Adam and Eve and they journeyed together. As we do now.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020125.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry