Faith Trust Obedience

The text from the Wisdom of Sirach today, in the Roman Catholic Lectionary, presents the strong advice not to appear before the Lord without an offering. What do we think of our obligation in the relationship with the Divine to which we are invited? The immediate and genuine responses of the creature to the Creator are awe and thanksgiving. The psalmist identifies thanksgiving as a movement of bringing an ‘acceptable offering’ to the Lord. The attitude of thanksgiving boosts joy and faith. The faith to which we are called is that of Abraham and Mary. It is faith beyond what our senses tell us. It is trust that puts self desire far behind the desire to follow the will of the Father. The Gospel of Mark presents Jesus response to Peter’s declaration that they have left everything to follow Jesus. Is this a statement of that trust of Abraham and Mary or is it the frustration of “What more do you expect?” Jesus responds with a promise and an observation of the present situation. The relationships building within the Kingdom of God are bringing life to the disciples now. The relationships are the links to the eternal and infinite.