Faith without Doubt is Dead

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9; Matthew 7:15-20

Summary

Abram put his faith in the LORD, who attributed it to him as an act of righteousness. “Lord GOD,” he asked, “how will I know that I will possess it? (Gen 15:6, 8)”

Faith, doubt, fear and the need for reassurance coexist within the believer.

It is very hard to imagine life without this sort of crisis in thought. Actually, it is the preferred life, a pathway of growth.

1. Faith is the ultimate expression of Good. We don’t trust someone to be evil. We trust for the good.
2. Doubt expands the boundaries of faith and understanding. It allows us to explore the facts, actions, motives and decisions we make and the Lord makes.
3. Reassurance (the need and the response) help us move forward going through ‘the valley’ and suffering the paralysis of indecision or worse yet discount the existence of good.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me (PS 23:4).

Abram when through this valley. The Lord accounted Abram’s righteousness (or perhaps we can say attempt at right relation). The Lord also answered with a Sign and a Promise.

Signs – He took him outside and said: Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so, he added, will your descendants be. When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. (Gen 15:5, 17).
Oath – On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates (Gen 15:18). [Note: Abram promise was for all his children (Isaac / Ishmael) and as Saint Paul mentions in Gal 3:7 the gentile as well].

Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb (Gen 12:9). This verse is not in sequence but it is the reality of a journey of faith.

Reflection

Doubt, a gift, brings about the need for discernment. Jesus offers us today the distinction we are searching for – the evidence of truth and good. Why should I believe you, Lord?

Out of the ground the LORD God made grow every tree that was delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:9).

The Lord made Grow:

1. Tress that are a delight to look at and good for food.
2. Tree of Life itself – sustained life and eternal life.
3. Tree of Knowledge of good and evil – the discernment, the free will and the power.

Within us to mature are these three gifts.
The fruits are what reveal the effects.

Personal Reflection

• The first question is: Who is the author of the fruit? This is the divine question.
• The second question is: What fruit do I produce? This is the self-referring question.

Be fruit.

Sacred Readings Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062525.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry