The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of the essential role of faith in our relationship with each other and with God.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews defines the meaning of Faith with examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah.
* [11:1] Faith is the realization…evidence: the author is not attempting a precise definition. There is dispute about the meaning of the Greek words hypostasis and elenchos, here translated realization and evidence, respectively. Hypostasis usually means “substance,” “being” (as translated in Heb 1:3), or “reality” (as translated in Heb 3:14); here it connotes something more subjective, and so realization has been chosen rather than “assurance” (RSV). Elenchos, usually “proof,” is used here in an objective sense and so translated evidence rather than the transferred sense of “(inner) conviction” (RSV). (Hebrews, CHAPTER 11, n.d.)
Psalm 145 The Greatness and the Goodness of God.
* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145, n.d.)
The Gospel of Mark describes the Transfiguration and the coming of Elijah.
* [9:2–8] Mark and Mt 17:1 place the transfiguration of Jesus six days after the first prediction of his passion and death and his instruction to the disciples on the doctrine of the cross; Lk 9:28 has “about eight days.” Thus the transfiguration counterbalances the prediction of the passion by affording certain of the disciples insight into the divine glory that Jesus possessed. His glory will overcome his death and that of his disciples; cf. 2 Cor 3:18; 2 Pt 1:16–19. The heavenly voice (Mk 9:7) prepares the disciples to understand that in the divine plan Jesus must die ignominiously before his messianic glory is made manifest; cf. Lk 24:25–27. See further the note on Mt 17:1–8.
* [9:5] Moses and Elijah represent, respectively, law and prophecy in the Old Testament and are linked to Mount Sinai; cf. Ex 19:16–20:17; 1 Kgs 19:2, 8–14. They now appear with Jesus as witnesses to the fulfillment of the law and the prophets taking place in the person of Jesus as he appears in glory. (Mark, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)
Nancy Shirley comments that it is so easy to be grateful children when everything goes our way. So different when we face challenges and have the need to “dig into” that reserve of faith to keep us going.
I was recently at a wake service for a relative that was also a woman of deep faith. I had not realized how deep her faith was until I heard her grown sons (men in their 40s & 50s) eulogize their mother. One by one each provided stories of the incredible faith that his mom had imparted to him. When each son quoted scripture to honor his mom, I knew it was the real deal. She had instilled in each of them a resiliency built on a foundation of faith steeped in scripture. They had all faced difficult times and extraordinary challenges including months of deployment, the recent death of a spouse, and a mom dealing with the aftermath of a major stroke for more than five years. Yet these awesome men were exemplary men of faith – each reflected on some parts of first Corinthians 13 and each one concluded the honoring of his mom with . . .and now these three remain, faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. (Shirley, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The transfiguration of Jesus,” by Jerome (347-420 AD).
"Do you wish to see the transfiguration of Jesus? Behold with me the Jesus of the Gospels. Let him be simply apprehended. There he is beheld both 'according to the flesh' and at the same time in his true divinity. He is beheld in the form of God according to our capacity for knowledge. This is how he was beheld by those who went up upon the lofty mountain to be apart with him. Meanwhile those who do not go up the mountain can still behold his works and hear his words, which are uplifting. It is before those who go up that Jesus is transfigured, and not to those below. When he is transfigured, his face shines as the sun, that he may be manifested to the children of light, who have put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12). They are no longer the children of darkness or night but have become the children of day. They walk honestly as in the day. Being manifested, he will shine to them not simply as the sun but as he is demonstrated to be, the sun of righteousness." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 12.37.10) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Hebrews 11:1-7 asks if we have ever experienced a quiet yearning in our heart for something more than what this world offers? That’s our faith giving us “evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Have we ever heard a quiet voice in our conscience urging us to obey God or moving us to turn to him in prayer? That’s the inner proof that we really do believe that there is a God who wants to bless us and fill us with his love.
So whenever you feel your heart tugging you toward the Lord, stop what you’re doing for a moment and give him thanks for this gift of faith. Thank him for this divine “evidence” that the unseen God has chosen you to know him personally and to live in his presence forever.
“Thank you, Father, for the precious gift of faith. Help me to nurture it so that it can grow stronger every day.” (Meditation on Hebrews 11:1-7, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the faith of the patriarchs Abel, Enoch, and Noah as examples to illustrate realization of what is hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Theophany on the mountain of the transfiguration (Mt Tabor?) was a momentary vision. Friar Jude reminds us how this experience sustained the disciples through Jesus' crucifixion.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, suggests that our emotions are also places where we can meet God. In her book Atlas of the Heart, which describes over seventy-five defining human emotions and experiences, researcher Brené Brown shares that one of the most valuable gifts in her life was from her mom. She taught us to never look away from pain.
Don’t look away. Don’t look down.
Don’t pretend not to see hurt.
Look people in the eye.
Even when their pain is overwhelming.
And when you’re hurting and in pain, find the people who can look you in the eye.
We need to know we’re not alone—especially when we’re hurting.
Even in my fifties, I find myself wrestling with the same questions that left me confused as a kid: Why do we cause each other so much pain, and why do we turn away from hurt when the only way to the other side of struggle is through it?… It just takes so much more energy and creates so much more emotional churn than having a seat and asking hurt or uncertainty to pull up a chair….
Every single day, our feelings and experiences show up in our bodies, they’re shaped by where we come from and how we were raised, they drive how we show up, and each feeling has its own unique backstory. Understanding these emotions and experiences is our life’s work. The more we learn, the deeper we can continue to explore. (Rohr, 2023)
We exercise trust in one another daily as we step forward to live more fully in response to the prompting of the Spirit.
References
Hebrews, CHAPTER 11. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/11?1
Mark, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/9?2
Meditation on Hebrews 11:1-7. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/02/18/612818/
Psalms, PSALM 145. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?2
Rohr, R. (2023, February 18). The Hebrew Prophets — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-hebrew-prophets-2023-02-18/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). This Is My Son, the Beloved - Listen to Him! Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=feb18
Shirley, N. (2023, February 18). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 18, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/021823.html
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