FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Amongst Thorns, Faith

"He was amazed at their lack of faith" (Mark 6:6). Jesus' question is one we can ask of ourselves: Is our faith only there when we are challenged, and things go "south" for us? When we are tempted to go to the Holy ATM and ask for some miracle or get out of that hole, we may have created it in the first place – due to our lack of faith?

And yet, the Lord never loses faith in us. The Lord's love for us is infinite. That is the one thing that we can always rely on forever and ever.

Countless times in the Bible, we read how the Israelites lost their way and rebelled against the Lord. And yet, the Lord kept his faith in them. When the situation became dire, the Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites to get them back on the right path. "And whether they heed or resist—for they are a rebellious house — they shall know that a prophet has been among them" (Ez 2:5). We can see this cycle many times in the Old Testament, and we can see that the Lord never loses faith in his people. 

When life goes south, and yes, that will happen to everyone, we can always turn to the Lord in his eternal mercy. Today's responsorial psalm reminds us of this: "Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy." The Lord will always open his door to anyone who knocks. To despair and believe that the Lord would have no mercy toward us or faith in us is the greatest mistake we can ever make. 

And how can we keep that faith? How can we match the Lord's faith in us when we are challenged? Though the thorn in his flesh was not removed, St. Paul says, "I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell with me" (2:Cor 12:9). That is the start: to let Christ dwell in us. And as the Lord works within us, our faith in the Lord will grow and grow within us. And that growth and strength will be infinite. 

"He was amazed at their lack of faith." Yet, Jesus has never lost faith in us. And Jesus will never lose faith in us. It is our turn to make the most honest and humble attempt to match our faith to the Lord's faith in us.

–Tim Matthews

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.