Weekly HOMILY for April 11, 2010: Rediscovering Faith Today

2nd Sunday of Easter, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
April 11, 2010


Rediscovering Faith Today
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato

The Seventh Seal

The Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman

It’s about the journey of a medieval knight across a plague-ridden landscape, and a monumental game of chess between himself and the personification of Death, who has come to take his life

The conversation between the knight and death goes like this:

Knight:
Why does God hide himself?
Why doesn’t he reveal himself?
Why doesn’t God stretch out
his hand and touch us?
Why doesn’t he, at least,
say something to us?

Death:
But God doesn’t do this, does he?
He doesn’t reach out.
He doesn’t speak.
He just remains silent.

Knight:
Tha’t right!
He doesn’t do a thing.
He doesn’t touch us;
he doesn’t speak to us.
Sometimes I wonder
if he’s really out there.

Death:
Well, maybe he’s not there.
Maybe no one’s out there.
Maybe we’re here all alone.
Did you ever think about that?

All of us can relate to that conversation. There are times when we seem to be all alone in the world, times when we wonder if God is really out there. We long for some sign, some touch, some word to reassure us that he’s really there for us


Our Faith “Muscle”

Today I’d like to ask, “Is there any way we can become surer of what we believe? Is there anything we can do to make our faith in the God ‘out there’ stronger?”

I would suggest that there is and what we can do is very practical

We all know that if we don’t use a muscle, it begins to weaken. In fact, it becomes so weak that it will begin to atrophy or die

Something like that can happen to our faith. It too can atrophy or die from lack of use. Yes, unexercised for a while, one day you wake up and find your faith is gone. It can be quite disconcerting to say the least


Thomas’ Faith “Muscle”

You might say that’s what has happened to Thomas’ faith as we see in today’s Gospel

Note two important points about our story: Thomas (1) Was not present with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared and (2) He was not willing to accept their own testimony that Jesus had risen from the dead

These are two serious omissions on his part and they have a direct impact on the quality of his faith. Similarly, when we omit them, they also have an impact on the quality of our faith as well

It is reassuring to see that Jesus does not condemn him, but he does correct Thomas when he says, “Thomas, have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed”

In short, blessed are those who (1) Stay close to their faith community and (2) Believe on the testimony of other believers


Our Physical Muscles

This connection should not surprise us. After all, if we’re going to try to tone up our abs or biceps, if we’re resolved to loose weight, If we’re trying to improve our golf game, think for a moment of what two things would guarantee your success?

What would be essential is (1) Hanging with others who espouse the same values – that is, being part of a select community like an athletic club or having a trainer or buddy with you in the effort – and (2) Listening to and trusting the word of those who have been successful – that is, putting our faith in others’ testimony

In the end, the resulting strength and vigor that we receive is not even our doing. What we’ve done is open ourselves up to the laws of biology and nature and cleared the way for God to give the increase, naturally.

But note, It’s our being open to living in community, being open to trust their testimony, and then to risk, take the plunge, if you will

In the area of faith development an environment of community, testimony and taking the plunge to believe opens the floodgates of grace to transformation.


Conclusion

Today on this feast of empowerment I ask you, “What shape is your faith in?”

What do you need to do to make it a living vibrant faith? (Pause)

Here’s the community of faith (point to assembly), here’s (point to ambo) the testimony of witnesses

All that’s lacking is for you and me to trust and take the plunge and believe that Jesus is here for me, on this day, in this moment

It will make all the difference in the world!