The writer of the book of Hebrews says that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). That always helps me to know that faith isn’t something I get to hold and possess, but it also challenges me because I don’t want to just hope for faith. I’m looking for something to guide me, so “things not seen” can feel challenging.
The writer goes on to talk about how Abraham trusted God’s promise and left his home for the journey to a new land. How Sarah trusted the promise that she and Abraham would be parents together. How others trusted God’s promise and sought to live their lives shaped by that promise.
So now, how do we live our lives shaped by God’s promises of grace and love and justice? Especially when these qualities are “things not seen” in our day, how do we continue to live in faith? It seems to me that this is a reason we need each other, to accompany one another and strengthen our community to keep living with love and justice and grace, even if we don’t see it fully.
Martin Luther King taught us that we can start going up a staircase even if we cannot see the top step. So we, like those who have gone before us, seek to live out faith in God who meets us in our human reality with surprising news.
People of St. Timothy, I am grateful that you seek ways to show God’s love in concrete actions, and that you continue to be open to “things not seen” in your lives.
Three Holy Days
In our tradition, we make space on Maundy Thursday to remember central parts of our faith story. We hear about the...
