Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priest

Today's Mass Readings

“Who has faith?” is perhaps the driving question of Mark’s gospel. In today’s reading, the disciples prove themselves deficient. At first read, their fear of the oncoming storm seems quite reasonable – they’re afraid because their little boat is already filling up with water! (Mk 4: 37). Yet, Mark concludes the Parable of the Mustard Seed, which immediately precedes this story, by telling us that Jesus explained everything to his disciples in private without the use of parables (Mk 4:34). With this set up we expect the disciples to understand the scope of Jesus’ power, but they don’t. Even after the miracle, the disciples question who He is (Mk 4:41). Abraham’s abundance of faith stands in sharp contrast to the disciples on the boat. From Abraham we learn two major aspects of the virtue of faith: 1) Perseverance and endurance through testing and (2) Seeing things which others cannot.

The first aspect is particularly evident with his son Isaac. God promised him a son, even though his wife Sarah was sterile (Heb 11:11). Abraham trusted. After Isaac was born, God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his son (Heb 11: 17-18). Abraham trusted. And God stopped him from killing Isaac.

With regard to the second, Abraham wondered homeless, but could see that he was progressing toward the city promised by God (Heb 11:10). He never reached the Promised Land, but “saw it and greeted it from afar” (Heb 11:13). We learn from Abraham that faith isn’t as simple as “believing in things unseen.” Rather faith precisely enables us to see. Through faith, Abraham saw God’s promised land and lived accordingly. He illustrates the definition of faith given us in today’s first reading, “the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). In the Greek, the term “conviction” has legal connotations, it describes a down payment or a pledge of property. Abraham acts in view of the property for which he has received the promise.

So faith surely isn’t “blind.” It is rather a gift from God that must be cultivated in us. Faith primarily describes a relationship with God. This relationship was begun by God in His covenant with Abraham. Insofar as we accept and cultivate this relationship, we begin to see the world as God sees the world, and hopefully act accordingly.

- Tim Gabrielli