By Kristine Schroeder
Lessons Learned
“God satisfies the thirsty soul, and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:9).
The Scriptures of Feb. 1 were inspiring. In the first reading, Hebrews 11:1-9, St. Paul discusses the definition of faith. “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” What a lyrical and spiritual combination of words. How could it be anything but Holy Spirit inspired?
Paul goes on to explain that Abraham obeyed God’s commands three times never knowing where those requests would lead or how they were possible. First, God asked Abraham to uproot from his home and travel to a new and foreign land. Without hesitation, Abraham did so. Next, God told Abraham that his wife Sarah would conceive and bear a son even though she was well past childbearing years. Again, Abraham believed God’s promise and within a year, Sarah bore a son whom they named Isaac.
Finally, God put Abraham to the ultimate test. He asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son even though God had previously promised that Abraham would have “descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore.” Abraham did not delay to do God’s bidding. He gathered up wood for the fire, called Isaac to carry it, and they proceeded up the mountain to do God’s will. Paul then states, “He (Abraham) reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.” For his faith, God rewarded Abraham by keeping his promises, and Abraham became known as the father of the Christian faith.
In the corresponding Gospel from Mark 4:35-41, the Apostles are in a boat with Jesus when “a violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.” Meanwhile, “Jesus is in the stern, asleep on a cushion.” In a panic, the Apostles wake Jesus and ask him if he cares that they are perishing. Jesus calmly and quickly rebukes the wind and says to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” Immediately, calm reigns.
Then turning to his Apostles, he gently rebukes them asking, “Do you not yet have faith?” Yet, even after such an amazing display of power, the Apostles still question among themselves, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
In the first reading, Abraham totally trusts God and his plan without any visual confirmation of what is to be. On the other hand, the Apostles are actually traveling with the Son of God and witnessing firsthand his omnipotent power in countless miracles. Yet, they still question who He is.
Abraham is our representation of one who has unwavering faith. He is the model we are striving to be. In contrast, the Apostles represent most of our current selves. Similar to them, even when we witness God’s hand in our lives, we are skeptical that he was the one who made it happen. Pope St. John Paul II, however, affirmed Abraham’s trust when he said, “In the designs of Providence, there are no coincidences.”
With that idea in mind, we are encouraged to trust like Abraham, believing that God has a purpose for all the events of our life, positive and negative. When we are able to view the happenings of each day with that perspective, it will free us from excess worry and allow us to focus more on where God is directing us.
Growing in faith is a never ending journey. We are blind to what tomorrow may bring. In some ways, that is a blessing. When we view the Apostles’ journey throughout Scripture, we see their faith and trust in Jesus increase, eventually to the point of surrendering their very lives for him.
By accepting the grace of the Holy Spirit and trusting in God’s plan, they gained the faith of Abraham. We too are invited to travel that same road each day. Our grace for the journey is available through our prayers, mass attendance, adoration and service to others. If we faithfully fulfill our duties, God will always keep his promises.