Reflection on the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”  

A large group of family members had gathered in Gaza for a meal and to visit with one another. Suddenly there was a missile attack, and the building they were in came crashing down on them, killing 27 members of the family. There were two survivors – a woman and her young nephew. The two of them were trapped under a concrete slab that had fallen after  the bombing. Rescuers knew they were there and were alive, but could not get to them. For 12 days they survived without food or water. One man was determined to rescue them, and made one final attempt and freed them. The two were skin and bones but alive and  eventually recovered. They never gave up hope nor had the man so determined to save them. They had faith that someone would save them.

 I was 12 years old when my three cousins and playmates – Therese-13, Jim-12 and Dorothy–8 – were all killed in a car-train accident. Their parents had already lost a child, who died when she was 6 months old. I look back on that day and ask how did my aunt and uncle survive? They were a powerful example of faith for me, especially my aunt, whose emotions were so raw and visible. My uncle kept his grief inside and hidden.

Aunt Irene prayed that if her children were in heaven (and why wouldn’t they be?) that she would receive a rose through the intercession of St. Therese of Lisieux to whom she had great devotion. She received roses in abundance from the most unexpected places. The house was filled with them. Uncle Mart asked for that as a sign as well. He prayed that Ave Maria might be sung at their funeral. His prayer was also answered.

These were small requests but so needed in their hour of unbelievable grief. But their faith was much deeper and not totally dependent on signs. They had an older daughter who was not involved in the accident and were blessed with another child after the accident, which eased their pain. For the rest of her life, my aunt suffered periodic nightmares during which she would scream loudly enough for the neighbors to hear.

If you stop and think about it, our lives are lived by faith every day. We exercise faith all the time without even thinking about it. We have faith that the driver of the big semi racing toward us will stay in his or her own lane. We have faith that the doctor knows what he or she is talking about. We trust cooks not to give us food poisoning. We even have faith that the lights will come on when we flip the switch.

But faith in God may be more difficult for some because it is faith in the unseen – or is it? There are signs all around us. Step outside and look at the stars at night or google the astronomical picture of the day on  your computer and ask yourself how all of this is possible. Objects in space move in circles, cycles and rhythm. Where did all this beauty and order come from? Humans certainly did not create it.

Look at how humans have evolved  from cavemen to inventing a way to travel through space and land on the moon. Look at nature and the vast variety of grass, trees, aquatic species, animals, insects, birds and a glorious array of flowers. We are the most intelligent beings that we know about in this universe, but we share none of the responsibility for this variety and beauty. We conclude, as the poet says, “Only God can make a tree.”

I have known for a long time that our human bodies are made up of cells, intelligent cells that know what to do and where to go and have multiplied from two cells into a body with bone, liver, brain, fingers, heart, arteries and intestines. How did those cells expand  so quickly into thousands – and how did they know where to go? How do they communicate with each other and know when to rotate out and be replaced by fresh cells? Is that not a miracle, a sign in itself?

But that is not the end of my story. Recently, we have learned a tiny bit about the world of quantum physics. I can only imagine what the scientists are saying, and I certainly don’t pretend to understand it all. But here is what I have learned: the whole and entire universe, with billions of stars, thousands of galaxies, planets, earth, mountains, deserts, clouds, gasses, animals, humans and even each of those little cells are composed of tiny particles and waves. Furthermore, they communicate with each other to form relationships and protect one another. They can even communicate at great distances from each other.

How can this be? What master mind brought all of this into existence? Is it possible not to believe that there is a power higher than ourselves?  Even so, because so much of it all is unseen we may still have that occasional doubt. Is all of this really true? Could this possibly have been an accidental happening as some claim? Personally I cannot accept that idea, and reflecting on all of creation brings me back to God, a God who has created and is still creating a beautiful world – a God revealed to us as loving each of us unconditionally. That is my faith in things seen and unseen.

Today’s Gospel urges us to be faithful servants, actively waiting for the Master’s return. The Scribes and Pharisees were given signs but did not understand them. We have been given signs to help us believe when we consider this majestic universe and earth that we inhabit. 

We have much to learn from the indigenous peoples of this nation, who have a wonderful sense of God in all of nature and learned to use mother earth’s gifts sparingly. They gave thanks to the trees, plants and animals for sharing with them. They were careful to replace what had been used. They held the earth as sacred. 

Our creator has given us signs to ponder and help us to believe. Do we see them? Jesus invites us, as faithful stewards to live as he lived, to care for one another and the gifts that the Creator has given us. People around us show us how to be faithful even in adversity. We have faith, hope and love because our God is with us, above us, below us and all around us.

We need only to open our eyes to see!