Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
The theme that runs through today’s readings is faith. The writer of the Hebrews in the first reading describes faith as “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen,” (Hebrews 11:1). Then the writer demonstrates how Abraham exemplified this definition. He traveled away from his home not knowing where God was leading him. Abraham had faith that God would give him and his wife Sarah a child even though they were both old. He then offered up his only child Isaac not knowing that his son’s life would be spared. In the Gospel, Jesus calms the storm while he and his disciples were on a boat. Then he rebukes them for having little faith by asking them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” (Mark 4:40). What do these stories tell us about having faith today?
In today’s Gospel, there was “a violent squall” (Mark 4:37). Often in our personal lives and in the world around us, there are storms. Do we trust that God will be with us to endure those challenging times? This past Wednesday’s Gospel reading was about the parable of the sower in which the sower plants seeds in various types of soil: path, rocky, thorns, and rich soil. The seeds planted in rich soil bore fruit whereas the other seeds died. Are we making efforts to plant our seeds of faith in rich soil?
Someone whose seeds of faith were planted in rich soil is Abraham. He had many changes in his life, changes that led to instability especially as a wandering nomad in the desert and not in a city like the one he was in before. Do we trust like Abraham that God will guide us in times of change and transition? Abraham also had hope, hope in having a child and many descendants and that God will protect his child. With the problems in our country and world, it can be difficult to have hope. These readings can help us reflect on how our faith leads and empowers us to hope.
The first reading can inspire us to reflect on our ancestors in faith. I think of the Marianist Founders Blessed William Joseph Chaminade and Blessed Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon (aka Blessed Marie of the Conception) and their collaborator Venerable Marie Therese de Lamourous. They lived during the time of the French Revolution and the period after that. Even though their times were chaotic and unstable, they didn’t waver in their faith. If anything, such tumultuous times strengthened it. They persevered in sharing the Catholic faith even if getting caught doing so meant imprisonment or death by guillotine.
Today’s readings and our ancestors in faith have much to teach us about faith and how faith involves trust in God, hope, and perseverance. May we learn from them. I pray that your faith will grow deeper and stronger.
—Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI