Who By Faith? January 29

What more shall I say? …(of those) who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises… (Heb 11: 32-33)

The LORD keeps those who are constant, but more than requites those who act proudly. (Ps 31:24-25)

“Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” (Mk 5:19)

Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

By Beth De Cristofaro

Piety

Bring me, Lord Jesus, out of my possession by all that is not you. Breathe life, Holy Spirit, into my most intimate desires and nudge me toward all that is good. Keep me, God of Life, faithful and constant to Your will. (prayer inspired in part by www.sacredspace.ie)

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/012907.shtml

Paul continues to offer as example the works of our spiritual ancestors who by faith (Heb 11: 33) was loyal to God’s promise without the evidence of their eyes as proof of that promise.

In fact, their loyalty was unique: The world was not worthy of them (Heb 11:38) It took, however, the sacrifice of Christ to complete and sanctify their efforts. They too, like the Christians Paul addresses and like ourselves, are saved through Christ. God keeps those who are constant. (Ps 31:24)

It is frightful, but perhaps we can see ourselves and our culture in the man who was possessed by Legion. He was out of touch with reality. He hurt himself and those around him. He recognized the divinity of Jesus, and tried to gain power over him in the ancient, accepted belief that by calling a person’s precise name one could master the other. Jesus not only withstood this assault but turned it around: He asked him, “What is your name?” (Mk 5:9) Evil has no sway and cannot remain in the face of God.

The man was Gentile yet Jesus did not hesitate to cure him. And, although Jesus did not accept him as a disciple, Jesus commissioned him to tell about the cure to his family and friends. This is in direct contrast to the many cures Jesus performed among the Jews when He cautioned the cured one “tell no one.” A Gentile, one who had lived with evil, is trusted with the Word. And the man was heard! He …went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed (Mk 5:20)

Is the world, created by God and given in stewardship to humans, not worthy of us? Do we remain constant in our faith? (Ps 11:24) or do we succumb to evil, hiding from the face of God (what do you want of us?). God remains constant to us.

Action

In what way am I possessed – by material things, addictions, empty rituals? Am I wandering among tombs, receptacles filled with death-delivering desires, ambitions, and judgments. Can I let them go, let Jesus send them into the sea?

Keep Jesus’ face before you and let your actions today proclaim God in the Decapolis of your world. Be open to Him rather than your own, internal audio file which seeks to claim your attention.

DeColores!