Biblical writings from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament are filled with countless stories about believers who found it difficult to practice their faith according to the various covenants God offered.
The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years after being freed by God from slavery in Egypt because they continuously complained to Moses about God’s return plan to the Promised Land. They grumbled it would be better to return to Egypt to be slaves again rather than suffer their time in the desert due a lack of trust in God’s ways.
In the New Testament there are further stories beginning with King Herod the Great killing innocent children so the hoped-for Messiah, Jesus, would not replace him as king. He rejected God’s plan for deliverance of sin because he preferred his limited earthly life versus an everlasting one.
Since the beginning of the Catholic Church at Pentecost with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and Mary, we too have seen numerous schisms, revolts and reformations that have tried to destroy the Church and God’s plan for our salvation. It is nearly 2000 years later, and it doesn’t seem like much has changed in either internal or external forces that attack our faith.
Internally, we still have political differences as to how the Church should be run to make sure it agrees with God’s covenant brought to us by Jesus’ birth as the fulfillment of the Covenant of the Law in Moses’ time. There are factions within the Church that disagree with an evangelical pastoral approach as fostered by Pope Francis to take care of those who are fully initiated and practice their faith. They want to return to the Church prior to Vatican II.
Externally, the Catholic Church is constantly being attacked in multiple ways by individuals, groups and media who only point out the negative aspects due to human failures. Any positive changes which bring peace, joy, life and love, are pushed to the side, maligned or ignored as an offset to negative occurrences.
It is no wonder that as faithful followers, we find it difficult to understand what truth we need to follow.
Pope Francis in his Epiphany of the Lord homily on January 6, 2022, said we need to have a spirit of healthy restlessness born of desire as did the Magi. He told those in attendance: “The journey of life and faith demands a deep desire and inner zeal.” He said we need to ask ourselves: “Where are we on our journey of faith”? He added: “…we need to set out anew each day, in life as in faith, for faith is not a suit of armor that encases us; instead, it is a fascinating journey, a constant and restless movement, ever in search of God, always discerning our way forward.”
It is for this reason that after Jesus read Isaiah 61:1-2 about the Spirit of the Lord being upon him along with being anointed in today’s Gospel he said: “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Would those listening have the courage and strength to accept this as the fulfillment of their faith as Pope Francis shared or reject it because they didn’t have the deep desire and inner zeal faith needs?
We the initiated and practicing Catholics have promised by our Baptism that
we will always: “let our restless hearts embrace the restlessness of the
Spirit. The world expects it and a new
burst of enthusiasm for the things of heaven,” as Pope Francis shared. Let us accept the sacrifice of Jesus as God’s
plan in our life by being outspoken in our support for all who believe and for
those who need God in their lives.
Reading 1: Nehemiah 8: 2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
Reading 2: First Corinthians 12: 12-30
Gospel: Luke 1: 1-4; 4: 14-21
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