Faith gives us the tools to endure, cope, survive

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Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr, by Father Perry.
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
Today’s readings offer some contradictions to us and remind me of a Latin phrase I remember from seminary days: non sequitur (“it doesn’t follow”). Or in other words, it isn’t logical, and it doesn’t make any sense.
The first reading today begins with the same and final verse of yesterday’s reading —
“Brothers and sisters:
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.”
Yikes! Faith seems to necessarily require suffering. Or because we have faith and are faithful in our faith, we will have the stuff to endure suffering and not lose that faith. Not a contradiction after all, it would seem.
Then the psalm tells us in the oft repeated refrain —
“The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.”
That Old Testament fear mongering raises its ugly head again! But what an odd way of putting it: everlasting kindness in exchange for fear. Yikes, again!
Then the Gospel shows us an astonished crowd in the synagogue, uttering such phrases —
“Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!”
And then, identifying his family, they conclude with this response —
“And they took offense at him.”
A total non sequitur — amazed, then condemnatory. Then Jesus himself became amazed “at their lack of faith.”
In spite, almost, at this seemingly contradictory stuff, doesn’t it arouse in us our faith, and a strong and firm faith at that?
In letter, psalm, and Gospel passages, don’t we kind of look at them and then get a better picture of who we want to become more and more, and what is, kind of, required of us?
Then, that one little verse from John’s Gospel that is our Gospel verse refrain stands out and even shouts out —
“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.”
Alleluia!

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