Faith-based responses

The Mass readings for the 28th and 29th Sundays in Ordinary Time reveal the saving power of God as we witness faith-based responses to situations that cause suffering or require great effort. Five significant realities come into light: gratitude is a fruit of conversion; faith is unchained; dependence on the word of God sustains; endurance is necessary; and prayer is essential.  

Gratitude 

The healing power of God has no limits or conditions. We read in the Second Book of Kings (2 Kgs 5:14-17) and in the Gospel of Luke (17:11-19) two stories of healing, in each case those with leprosy. Acknowledging alienation accompanies those with leprosy, these healings were rooted in faith. Naaman, the army commander we hear about in the Second Book of Kings, as well as the group of 10 lepers mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, desire healing. They sought the one known to heal, who indeed cleansed their skin, which was a physical healing.

Beyond the physical, there occurs spiritual healing: conversion, gratitude, deepening of faith and new life. Two lepers offered sincere gratitude: Naaman, who worshipped pagan gods and the other, a Samaritan. Both were outcasts yet both received without condition. Both were open to the extraordinary. Both gave thanks to God. Both experienced a transformation. Their healing, seemingly hopeless, is a manifestation of the enormity of God’s mercy for all people. “The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power” (Ps 98).

Unchained

St. Paul’s letters to Timothy continue for two more Sundays. Imprisoned and chained “like a criminal” (2 Tim 2:9) he continues to witness the saving truth of Jesus Christ; a truth which is unchained. His suffering renews his fervor to continue preaching as he offers Timothy encouragement, perseverance and hope by remaining steadfast in Jesus Christ for salvation. He then “charges” Timothy “to teach, refute, correct and train” so that “they may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 2:14-17). St. Paul never ceases to proclaim the message of Jesus. Although in physical chains, St. Paul’s faith is unchained.

St. Paul’s encouragement to Timothy resonates today. Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14:6). He is the way we enter into truth and live in his light. We are strengthened by prayer and meditation with the Bible, alone and in small communities of believers. In addition, our participation in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist, fortifies our love of God and others and deepens our desire to want to know more, to become more. We belong.  As we become rooted in truth, our faith is unchained. We are equipped for mission. A day without reading the Bible or a week without Eucharist is like walking through a long narrow tunnel without a flashlight: dark and dangerous.  We never want to be so distant from God that we are unable to “see.”

Paragraph 2466 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “In Jesus Christ, the whole of God’s truth has been made manifest. Full of grace and truth, he came as the light of the world. He is the truth. Whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” The disciple of Jesus continues in his word so as to know “the truth (that) will make you free” and that sanctifies. To follow Jesus is to live in “the Spirit of truth,” whom the father sends in his name and who leads “into all the truth.” To his disciples Jesus teaches the unconditional love of truth: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes or No.’ ”

Is my faith chained? If so, what are those chains? Am I handing on the faith to my family, especially my children, friends, community, strangers? Am I in need of healing, spiritual and/or physical? Have I sought the sacraments of healing in the anointing of the sick and/or reconciliation? Do I have a Bible on hand? Perhaps a great way to begin is by reading the Daily Mass and Sunday Mass readings. Is there a Bible study at my church? 

Endurance

During the 29th Sunday readings, we hear of the necessity of endurance. Moses, in the Book of Exodus, commits to praying on top of a hill over the Israelite army as they wage battle against a serious enemy. His necessary
 

task is to keep his arms raised in prayer, staff in hand throughout the entire battle. Naturally, his arms and legs begin to weaken. As soon as his arms lower, they experience small defeat. As soon as he raises his arms, they experience small victories. Moses’ endurance is wavering, not for lack of faith but by way of exhaustion. 

Take note of Psalm 121, “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Calling upon the Lord, Aaron and Hur stand on either side of Moses, help him sit down and hold up his arms. Moses’ endurance increased by the help of the Lord through the work of these two men, who were equipped to serve the mission. They persisted because of their faith in God and responded to serve the crucial need of another.

Perseverance & prayer

Finally, we read the story of the widow and the unrighteous judge (Lk 18:1-8). This woman is  powerless against a corrupt judge. But she repeated her request until she received an answer from him. He finally gave in to her plea because she “relentlessly bothered him.” Here is the lesson:  If an unjust judge, who does not care for one moment about this woman, finally answers her persistent plea, how much more will God, who infinitely loves us, respond to our persistent prayer? We realize we may receive an unexpected answer, yet God does listen and answers our prayers. Hence, prayer is essential to our faith.  

Sometimes we struggle in prayer because we tend to think God is not listening. The reality is that God’s love for us always comes before our prayer (Catechism #2567). We are praying because we already know God loves us. We are responding to his love when we pray. We are saying, “God, I know you love me. I trust in this love and offer you.”

What battles am I praying over right now? Who is there to help me endure the trials? Am I persistent in my prayer? How can I set aside time to sit with God, in silent prayer and contemplation?  “In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 5:18).

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.