For the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time…
Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is one of the most basic virtues necessary for our spiritual lives. The meaning of faith, however, can be challenging to understand. The above verse about faith is classic and well known. Another translation reads that “faith is confident assurance…and it is conviction about things we do not see.” The entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews encourages us with numerous examples of faith.
I also like the concept expressed by the Bengali poet, Tagore. He says:
“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings while the dawn is still dark.”
With faith, we often walk in darkness, trusting the light will be waiting.
We trust a person for three reasons. The person knows the truth, speaks the truth and will not deliberately deceive us. Jesus eminently fulfills those three conditions. On that foundation we can, with confident assurance, base the entirety of our lives—both here and the hereafter.
