Great Faith

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/013115.cfm) reminds me how important to God our faith is.

Hebrews 11:1 gives us a very good definition of faith. It is the realization of what is hoped for, and evidence of things not seen.

In the first reading, we see that God honors our faith. Abraham had great faith in God, obeying what God tells him despite not knowing the purpose, despite feeling unprepared un prepared, and despite the doubts and fears he may have. He just submitted himself to God’s will and obeyed whatever God asked of him. Not only that, he believed so much in the love and power of God. This is the reason he experienced a lot of great things, and that God was able to use him mightily.

In the gospel, we are again reminded of the importance of faith through Jesus. Jesus wants us to have faith in Him. Although we are also reminded that lack of faith will not cause us harm or pain, Jesus will still come to our rescue.

Probably we can relate to the people in the boat. We have experienced God’s goodness and power in our lives, but like them, when things seem to be shaky and scary, we panic. We forget that He is God, we forget how loving and powerful he is. We forget all the good he has done for us, and all the times he has saved us. We let the immediate challenging situation affect us.

May we never forget the times God has been there for us, and may it lead us to remember that he will always be there. May we be inspired to be like Abraham and have a great, surrendered faith in Him.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Lord, I thank you that this month is over. It seemed that it was yesterday when we were celebrating the new year, now the first month of the year is over. Lord, help me increase my faith. May I never forget the times you have been there for me, especially when I am faced with challenging situations. In my own little way, may I have faith like Abraham. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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January 31, 2015

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

Lectionary: 322

Reading 1 Heb 11:1-2, 8-19

Brothers and sisters:

Faith is the realization of what is hoped for

and evidence of things not seen.

Because of it the ancients were well attested.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place

that he was to receive as an inheritance;

he went out, not knowing where he was to go.

By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country,

dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;

for he was looking forward to the city with foundations,

whose architect and maker is God.

By faith he received power to generate,

even though he was past the normal age

—and Sarah herself was sterile—

for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.

So it was that there came forth from one man,

himself as good as dead,

descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky

and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

All these died in faith.

They did not receive what had been promised

but saw it and greeted it from afar

and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,

for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.

If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come,

they would have had opportunity to return.

But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one.

Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God,

for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac,

and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,

of whom it was said,

Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.

He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead,

and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

Responsorial Psalm Lk 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75

R. (see 68) Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

R. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old.

that he would save us from our sins

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

R. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the bonds of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

R. Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Alleluia Jn 3:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,

so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 4:35-41

On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:

“Let us cross to the other side.”

Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.

And other boats were with him.

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?”

They were filled with great awe and said to one another,

“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”