20190223
FAITH
SEEKING UNDERSTANDING
23 FEBRUARY,
2019, Saturday, 6th Week, Ordinary Time
Readings at Mass
Liturgical Colour: Red.
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First reading
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Hebrews 11:1-7 ©
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It is by faith that we understand that
the world was created by one word from God
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Only faith can guarantee the blessings
that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present
remain unseen. It was for faith that our ancestors were commended.
It
is by faith that we understand that the world was created by one word from God,
so that no apparent cause can account for the things we can see.
It
was because of his faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain,
and for that he was declared to be righteous when God made acknowledgement of
his offerings. Though he is dead, he still speaks by faith.
It
was because of his faith that Enoch was taken up and did not have to experience
death: he was not to be found because God had taken him. This was because
before his assumption it is attested that he had pleased God. Now it is
impossible to please God without faith, since anyone who comes to him must
believe that he exists and rewards those who try to find him.
It
was through his faith that Noah, when he had been warned by God of something
that had never been seen before, felt a holy fear and built an ark to save his
family. By his faith the world was convicted, and he was able to claim the
righteousness which is the reward of faith.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm
144(145):2-5,10-11 ©
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I will bless your name
for ever, O Lord.
I will bless you day after day
and praise your name for ever.
The Lord is great, highly to be praised,
his greatness cannot be
measured.
I will bless your name
for ever, O Lord.
Age to age shall proclaim your works,
shall declare your mighty
deeds,
shall speak of your splendour and glory,
tell the tale of your wonderful
works.
I will bless your name
for ever, O Lord.
All your creatures shall thank you, O
Lord,
and your friends shall repeat
their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your
reign
and declare your might, O God.
I will bless your name
for ever, O Lord.
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Gospel Acclamation
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Ps147:12,15
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Alleluia, alleluia!
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
He sends out his word to the earth.
Alleluia!
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Or:
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cf.Mk9:6
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Alleluia, alleluia!
The heavens opened and the Father’s voice
resounded
‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to
him.’
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Mark 9:2-13 ©
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Jesus was transfigured in their presence
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Jesus took with him Peter and James and
John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves.
There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly
white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to
them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus:
‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three
tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to
say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and
there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to
him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more
but only Jesus.
As
they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had
seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the
warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from
the dead’ could mean. And they put this question to him, ‘Why do the scribes
say that Elijah has to come first?’ ‘True,’ he said ‘Elijah is to come first
and to see that everything is as it should be; yet how is it that the
scriptures say about the Son of Man that he is to suffer grievously and be
treated with contempt? However, I tell you that Elijah has come and they have
treated him as they pleased, just as the scriptures say about him.’
FAITH SEEKING
UNDERSTANDING
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Heb 11:1 -7; Ps 145:2-5, 10-11; Mk 9:2 -13 ]
In the first reading,
the author of Hebrews in chapter 11 speaks on the theme of faith. Without
faith, one cannot believe in God. “Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope
for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. It
was for faith that our ancestors were commended.” Faith is one of the
three theological gifts. The author makes it clear that “it is impossible
to please God without faith, since anyone who comes to him must believe that he
exists and rewards those who try to find him.” God only reveals Himself
to those who have faith in Him. Consequently, faith in the existence of
God cannot be proven. The creation of the world by the Word of God
requires faith as there is “no apparent cause (that) can account for the things
we can see.” Faith is to believe in things unseen.
The author highlights to
us the faith of our Fathers, particularly that of Abel, Enoch and Noah. “It was because of his faith that
Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain. It was because of his
faith that Enoch was taken up and did not have to experience death. It was
through his faith that Noah, when he had been warned by God of something that
had never been seen before, felt a holy fear and built an ark to save his
family.” All of them believed in God.
But faith is more than
just trust. It is to act out what we believe. In the case of Abel, “he was
declared to be righteous when God made acknowledgement of his offerings.”
Similarly, Enoch “was not to be found because God had taken him. This was
because before his assumption it is attested that he had pleased God.” As
in the case of Noah, it was because of his faith that “the world was convicted,
and he was able to claim the righteousness which is the reward of faith.”
Faith therefore must be expressed in righteous living in truth and in love. It
is not merely a sentimental trust in God. It is not enough to say I have
faith in God. As St James says, “Someone will say, ‘You have faith and I
have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will
show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons
believe – and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that
faith apart from works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified
by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active
along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.”
(Jms 2:18-22)
In the gospel, we have
the story of the Transfiguration. There they saw our Lord transfigured. “His
clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make
them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. And
a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud,
‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.'” It must have been a radical
experience of their lifetime to encounter the Lord in His glory that He was yet
to receive. So much so, they kept returning to this scene to sustain them
in their faith. “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we
made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had
been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the
Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This
is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this
voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. So we
have the prophetic message more fully confirmed.” (2 Pt 1:16-19) To see Jesus in His glory and to
hear the voice of the Father affirming Jesus as His beloved Son was a testimony
that could not be rejected or doubted. It was so clear and they were in a
state of mystification. The question that arises for us is that did
not the apostles have faith? That they saw this event, does it mean that
they were called to believe not by faith since they had seen? Then how
can we say that without faith, one cannot please God?
Indeed, many of us have
our own religious experiences and even spectacular encounters with the Lord
through prayer, contemplation and miracles. But to see is not yet to
believe. This
was what the Lord said to Thomas. “‘Put your finger here and see my
hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’
Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you
believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have come to believe.'” (Jn 20:27-29) Thomas too needed faith because
having seen the Lord with the stigmata did not mean that he carried out what he
demanded, that was, to put his finger in the mark of the nails and his hand in
His side. On the contrary, he immediately concluded in faith and made the
profession of faith, “My Lord and my God.”
We must therefore move
to the next level of faith. There is still another level of faith which
is to deepen our understanding of God.
Faith is to believe without seeing. Secondly, we said that faith is to be
demonstrated in active charity. Otherwise, we cannot say that we
have faith in Jesus or in God and yet fail to live the way He has taught us how
to live. When we believe in someone, we believe in all His words and teachings;
and we desire to live out the life that Jesus, who is the Way to the Truth has
shown us.
Thirdly, faith must grow
and deepen through study, reflection and contemplation. This is what the Dogmatic
Constitution on Divine Revelation says. “For there is a growth in the
understanding of the realities and the words which have been handed down. This
happens through the contemplation and study made by believers, who treasure
these things in their hearts (see Luke, 2:19, 51) through a penetrating
understanding of the spiritual realities which they experience, and through the
preaching of those who have received through Episcopal succession the sure gift
of truth. For as the centuries succeed one another, the Church constantly moves
forward toward the fullness of divine truth until the words of God reach their
complete fulfillment in her.” (Dei Verbum, 8)
This was what happened
to the apostles after the Transfiguration event. Although they saw, it did not mean
that they fully understood the meaning of what they saw. This was the
case of the disciples after encountering the Lord at the Transfiguration.
More questions were raised than resolved through the experience.
Hence, as they came down from the Mountain, they were wondering among
themselves discussing “what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.” They sought
Jesus for clarification and said, “‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to
come first?’ ‘True,’ he said ‘Elijah is to come first and to see that
everything is as it should be; yet how is it that the scriptures say about the
Son of Man that he is to suffer grievously and be treated with contempt?
However, I tell you that Elijah has come and they have treated him as they
pleased, just as the scriptures say about him.'” But they were still lost
and unable to understand because the time has not yet come.
Of course, this faith
can grow only through the help of the Holy Spirit. This is what the Lord promised us
when He told the disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you
cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into
all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he
hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (Jn 16:12f) The Constitution on Divine
Revelation explains this growth in faith. “The ‘obedience of faith’ (Rom. 16:26; see 1:5; 2 Cor 10:5-6) is to be given to God who
reveals, an obedience by which man commits his whole self freely to God,
offering the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals, and
freely assenting to the truth revealed by Him. To make this act of faith, the
grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit must precede and assist,
moving the heart and turning it to God, opening the eyes of the mind and giving
joy and ease to everyone in assenting to the truth and believing it. To bring
about an ever deeper understanding of revelation the same Holy Spirit
constantly brings faith to completion by His gifts.” (Dei Verbum,
5) Hence, faith begins with an act of trust, then expressed
in charity and action, followed by an ongoing deepening of faith daily.
Written
by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All
Rights Reserved
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