Lectionary 324 Tue. Feb 1,2011

Scripture: Lectionary 324. Hebrews 12:1-4 Psalm 22:26-27.28-30.31-32. Mark
5:21-43;

Faith is often the theme springing from our listening or reading the Word
of God (both the Scripture and our attentiveness to the Word of God who is
Jesus). Hebrews gives us many opportunities to deepen our faith and to
patiently endure the pilgrimage of faith. Today we are encouraged again to
keep believing and being firm with our faith. Fortes in Fide as Blessed
Chaminade would say: Strong in Faith. The section from Hebrews has some
resonances of our creed or at least of the creed of the author. The theme
of pilgrimage contines with the inspiring image of a track race included on
this pilgrimage. We are to always have our eyes fixed on our leader or our
Pioneer, Jesus.

Fr. Ceslas Spicq, O.P. who taught many of the Marianists in Fribourg,
Switzerland, was one of the great commentators and exegetes for this
epistle to the Hebrews. He says that "faith is the guaranteed possession
of what we hope for." Another way of looking at faith is that it shows us
God and Jesus giving us the absolute certainty that what has been promised
will be given to us.

Our Psalm helps us to seek God and to praise God. "We who long for you,
will praise you." This prayer helps us to be in the presence of God and
Jesus with the Holy Spirit enlightening our minds and warming our hearts as
we delve deeply in the Scriptures and pray them with faith of the heart.
This demands of us a listening heart--an expression that comes to us from
the Psalms. Our faith has its foundation on the whole of the Scriptures
both the Old and New Testaments.

The Gospel shows us two people who have faith and trust in Jesus. The
daughter of Jairus is raised from the dead because of his faith and the
woman with an issue of blood is cured because of her faith. Jesus tells
the woman, "Daughter, it is your faith that cured you. Go in peace and be
freed of your illness." To Jairus, Jesus wards off the sceptical crowd and
the mourners and tells them "Fear is useless. What is needed is
faith" (trust in the power of Jesus). May our faith help us on the
journey toward the kingdom and give us the strength to meet today's demands
with peace and joy. Amen.