4 February 2019
Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews recalls some of the stunning achievements of people who had faith, great people, like Noah, Abraham, and Moses. Noah could not have built his ark unless he had faith, nor could Abraham have followed God’s call to a new land, nor could Moses have led the Israelites out of Egypt. These are towering figures, and their faith was a key part of their accomplishments.
After describing the faith of several such figures, the eleventh chapter of Hebrews gives vent to some frustration: “What more shall I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Heb 11:32). Not that these B-list figures are anything to shake a stick at. Their faith and their deeds were pretty impressive as well.
Odds are that no one will be impressed by your deeds or by my deeds a hundred years from now. Most of us won’t even make it to the B-list, but we can still have great faith like those on the B-list or even on the A-list, and God, our Father who sees in secret, will repay us. “Do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense” (Heb 10:35). WE NEED FAITH! And it’s not just that you and I need faith, it’s our society that needs faith: our families, our Churches, our neighborhoods. Whether you are in a hospital bed or a prison cell or a dead-end job, you have one key and crucial thing to offer: FAITH. Don’t quit on God. Don’t reject him. “You need endurance to do the will of God” (Heb 10:36). Faith moves mountains, especially faith that has endured trials.