The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, August 8, 2004
The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today’s Liturgy of the Word:
Wisdom 18:6-9
Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-22
Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Luke 12:32-48

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

Today’s readings speak to us about faith; it is a word and subject we’ve heard about countless times. Most of us would say we have some faith and perhaps are satisfied enough that we have any faith at all. For those however who want to love God more, having just some faith, is not enough.

It doesn’t take a lot of sensitivity to see that life is full of situations that test our faith--calls us to respond with more faith and give us opportunities to make choices based on faith.

If growing in faith was just a matter of strength of will or character that would be difficult enough, but it is also a matter of reliance on things not tangible and a God who sometimes “seems” aloof and far away. How then can we grow in faith, maintain our faith and even if God wills it, sacrifice every thing we have and are--for faith? The only answer is beyond us and our own capabilities. It resides within the heart of God who desired that we might have access to Him and His strength and glory.

How can we find our way to God’s heart, to that treasure trove of love and power? First of all we look within. Within, because by the power of Baptism, God ordained to take up His dwelling place there and secondly we look to His Church, which is the steward of His sacramental grace.

Let us then, freely mine those sources of untold wealth. Let us consider that God is always close (within) and in the visible signs He left His Church to safeguard until the end of time.

- Donna Raye Nelson, ocds
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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posted by joachim at 4:18 AM