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| "Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas” (detail) by Filippino Lippi, 1489-91 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Commentary on Heb 11:1-2, 8-19
The beginning of this reading gives us a classic definition of faith: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” We note that this definition describes what faith does rather than giving a pure theological description. “Through faith God guarantees the blessings to be hoped for from him, providing evidence in the gift of faith that what he promises will eventually come to pass.[4]” Looking at the translation above, it is instructive to consider the same verse as translated in the Jerusalem Bible: “Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen.” That eloquent statement is followed by a description, a few verses later, of Abraham’s response to faith, and the Lord’s reward, incomplete before Christ and completed by him.
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Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
R. (see 68) Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel
Commentary on Lk 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
These strophes are the opening lines of the great Canticle of Zachariah sung to the newborn St. John the Baptist by his father at the occasion of his naming. He reminds the infant St. John that God is faithful to his promises and proclaims the Savior’s mission of salvation, a promise to Abraham, as a fulfillment of that promise. These introductory verses serve as a profession of faith in God and the Messiah of whom St. John will be the forerunner. Zachariah sings of the promise of salvation first promised to Abraham, now to be fulfilled in Jesus.
CCC: Lk 1:73 706
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Gospel: Mark 4:35-41
Commentary on Mk 4:35-41
In this passage, Jesus embarks in what is probably a fishing boat with his disciples. A storm comes up and the disciples are afraid. Jesus, with a word (“Quiet! Be still!"), silences the storm and waters, demonstrating the authority of the Messiah over the elements of the created world. The implication of his next statement is that, if the disciples had a mature faith, they could have done the same. The disciples are awed by his power but do not yet have faith to understand its source.
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Reflection:
We are forced to face up to the question the Lord asked the disciples today: “Then he asked them, ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’” We see the disciples afraid, even though the Lord is with them in the boat. They do not yet fully realize that as long as they have the Lord with them, nothing can hurt them.
It brings us to the realization that fear for our physical selves, while natural, should be the least of our worries. We only have these shells of human form for a short while in the eyes of God (Psalm 91:4), but we look forward to an eternity with God the Father in his Heavenly Kingdom.
This miracle performed by Jesus does more than demonstrate his authority over God’s creation. It reminds us that our faith in the Lord must put us in a spiritual place where we can reach out through faith for the salvation of our souls. If we could not do that, we should indeed be terrified.
Putting our faith totally in the hands of Jesus is, however, a hard thing to do. But we have that ability, that gift within us. In Baptism we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit, in Confirmation that gift is sealed, and in the Eucharist we receive the Sacred Body and Blood of the Lord who saves us. Those gifts combine in a massive infusion of grace to point the way. They are our compass in the storm of life. If the Lord wishes and we have faith, he can calm that storm as well, and we need not be afraid.
Pax
[1] The picture is "Scene from the Life of St Thomas Aquinas” (detail) by Filippino Lippi, 1489-91
[4] See NAB footnote on Heb 11:1-40
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