Just Have Faith

February 3, 2009

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. Hebrews 12:3-4

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?" Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith." Matthew 5:34-36

Piety

Father, give us the faith of Jarius and Jesus to overcome the sins and obstacles to your love which we encounter every day in the world. Help us to resist to the point of shedding blood. Holy Spirit, guide us so that we may not grow weary and lose heart. Amen.

Study

The notes from the New American Bible for the First Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews are a first step in understanding the meaning behind today’s message:

Christian life is to be inspired not only by the Old Testament men and women of faith but above all by Jesus. As the architect of Christian faith, he had himself to endure the cross before receiving the glory of his triumph. Reflection on his sufferings should give his followers courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood. Christians should regard their own sufferings as the affectionate correction of the Lord, who loves them as a father loves his children.

Added to this “cloud of witnesses” are the stories of faith that Jesus witnessed today from Jarius and the woman with the hemorrhages. They encountered Jesus – sought him out – in order to seek cures for themselves and those they love. And it WORKED. Faith is rewarded despite what the world may say.

Beyond that, in bringing the daughter of Jarius back to life, we also encounter one of the resurrection miracles in the Bible. This story, along with the resurrection of Lazarus, Elijah and others, points us toward the greater miracle, the resurrection of Jesus which not only brings him back to earthly life, but also forgives us for all of our sins.

No matter how hard it might be to cope with our own frailties and sins, Jesus went even further. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. Hebrews 12:3-4

We have not yet begun to answer the call to pick up our cross which Mark will deliver in just a few chapters:

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. Mark 8:34-35

Jesus is getting us ready for the real test, the real challenge: total commitment to himself through self-renunciation and acceptance of the cross of suffering, even to the sacrifice of life itself. Thus the Letter to the Hebrews hints that we too will have to resist “to the point of shedding blood.” The mortal lives that Jesus saves through healing and resurrection are still just saved o continue earthly existence. Christ will require a faith lived in denial of the temptations of the world and lived in loyalty to Christ.

Action

In the February letter from CRS President Ken Hackett, we are asked to consider the global food crisis and to participate in Operation Rice Bowl during Lent as a way of helping to alleviate such needs. You can read the whole message at the link above. Here are some excerpts:

News reports of impoverished children gathering corn kernels dropped in the street or parents having to choose which of their children to feed are distressing signs that the global economic and food crises have pushed billions of people to the limits of existence.

Our help is now needed more than ever, with more than 800 million people hungry-300 million of them children.

Each Lent, Catholic families, parishes and schools use symbolic rice bowls during the 40 days of Lent as the focal point for their prayer, fasting and learning. Participants fast in solidarity with those who hunger and make the small sacrifice of preparing simple, meatless recipes from developing countries each week, putting the money they would have spent on a big meal into the rice bowls. That money goes to support CRS’ mission to fight global hunger.

For more information on Operation Rice Bowl, visit orb.crs.org.