Faithful Believers. As a faithful Catholic, at least once a week, we recite our profession of faith. We state our belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ the son and the Holy Spirit. Too often I say the Nicene Creed in a rote fashion, rarely focusing on each of the words that are the foundation of my faith. Without the accompaniment of other worshippers’ voices, I sometimes find that I am at a loss at what word comes next.
Todays’ readings remind me that without my belief in the Trinity, I am fully lost. The first reading from Genesis is the story of God’s promise to Abram as long as Abram and his descendants believe in God the Almighty. “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.” The Responsorial Psalm sings of the blessings God will bestow on the reverent who believe. The second reading from Matthew narrates the story of the person with leprosy who approached Jesus with the faith that if Jesus desires, he can cleanse him of his leprosy.
The optional memorial for today’s Mass is to honor the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church; individuals whose belief in God so angered Nero that he had them put to death. At that time, there was no written creed; their faith and their belief were written on their hearts.
Challenge to belief
Today, in this country (United States of America), we are not asked to offer up our lives for our belief in God. But our society does try to tempt us to make our faith just a rote recitation we say on Sunday. The rest of Sunday and the other six days are for us to do whatever we want! But that is not what God told Abraham— “Hey, just say you believe on the Sabbath and that should cover you.” Certainly, the martyrs did not tell Nero, “Listen, ask us our beliefs on Monday instead of Sunday and we will be all in with you Romans and your gods.” A reading of Mark informs us that the person with leprosy did go and show himself to the priests once he was healed and despite Jesus’ admonition to him not to tell anyone, the person with leprosy made a point of sharing his belief that something miraculous had occurred when Jesus touched him.
Lord, I Believe!
It is quite easy to leave our belief in the pew once we exit from church on the weekend. But I believe every day we are called to restate our faith in God in some way. Each morning I sit and meditate on the readings for the day in my Magnificat. The day’s meditation in the Magnificat provides insights from saints, clergy, Catholic writers on how to live out my beliefs. Reading The Reckless Way of Love: Notes on Following Jesus by Dorothy Day illustrates the beauty of serving others even as we struggle with our human tendencies to focus on our own needs. Volunteering at a food bank, working with a Pro Life committee, bringing the Eucharist to others are things that I do because that is what God is asking me to do. How do I know he is asking me to do these things? I do these things because I believe. Further, I believe in God the loving Father. I believe in Jesus the Son who gave his life for our salvation. And I believe in the Holy Spirit who strengthens me. Amen.
