What enabled Stephen, to stand up to the authorities of his day and defend his belief in Christ knowing he would suffer persecution and even death? The answer is found in the gospel today when people asked Jesus, what could they do to accomplish the works of God and he replied, "believe in the one He sent." St. Faustina knew this well when she said, "Jesus I trust in you."
The crowd in the gospel today saw a sign, Jesus feeding the thousands, but they failed to look beyond to its meaning. It was Saint Augustine commenting on the gospel today who wrote, "How many there are who seek Jesus only to gain some temporary benefit…Jesus is scarcely ever sought for Jesus’s sake."
How do we acquired a belief in Jesus who God sent to be among us as a man and who would die and rise to free us from sin? Again, in the words of Augustine and citing St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians, "but who now can possibly say what it is like, what eye has not seen, nor ear heard, not has it come into the heart of man?" We heard that it is the work of God, but it is also work that each one of us has to engage in if we are to grow in our belief in Jesus?
The flame of faith was ignited in each one of us at our baptism. It is an eternal flame that we nurture for its sake and primarily for its sake.
As I pondered Jesus words about believing in him I was remined of a television series that I am enjoying that features the lives of individuals who have chosen to live in remote areas of Alaska in North America where winters can be extremely severe and sunlight reduced to four hours a day. As I listen to each of them reveal their reasons for living there and the hardships they choose to endure, they reveal their quest for serenity, a peace devoid of worldly attractions that demands a constant search for food that nature provides and wood to burn both essential for their survival. Every day demands a search to replenish their food and wood if they are to survive.
What food do we need to come to truly believe in Jesus for his sake and not primarily for what he can do for us? What food is needed every day that will allow us to say Amen, Alleluia for the flame of faith that was gifted to us at our baptism, the beginning of God’s work in us to come to believe in the one he sent? Stephen, the first Christian martyr knew and came to trust, commit, and rely upon Christ.
How many people throughout the world are like the persons in parts of remote Alaska who everyday have to work in order to survive? It is no less true for those of us who received the gift of faith.
Our flame of faith is eternal but needs daily fuel to sustain not only belief in the one God sent but also to urge us to heights of praise and the most ardent charity towards one another and towards God.
- Father Leo's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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