17 October 2015 - hoping against hope

We are called to a faith like that of Abraham. It is a faith in a God who can do the impossible. It is faith that can hope against hope because it is faith in a God "who gives life to the dead". That is how Abraham is able to hope in the promise of God to make him the father of many nations even though his own body is "as good as dead" and Sarah's womb is barren (cf. Rom. 4:19). This is exactly how he is able to offer Isaac back to God even though the loss of Isaac seems to mean that the promise to make him the father or many nations cannot not be fulfilled. But it is precisely because he believes that God can give life to the dead that he is able to continue in faith.

He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back (cf. Heb. 11:19).

Abraham believes in a God who calls into being what does not exist. He believes in a God who can do the impossible. It is to this faith that we are called. It is isn't some mere intellectual assent to which we are called, no mere tacit acknowledgment of the truth. It is something which really changes the core of who we are in a way that frees God to do anything he desires in us. This is most perfectly embodied in the fiat of Mary when she says, "Be it done unto me according to thy word" (cf. Luk. 1:38). This is the faith that unites all nations as children of Abraham. In its perfect expression in Mary we are her children as well, even more closely united to her than to Abraham.

This faith will acknowledge the Son of Man before the world. It trusts in the Holy Spirit to give us the words to do so even when those words do not exist within us. He gives us the words at the moment we need them.

We are not perfect and sometimes fail. But he remains faithful to us. He always offers forgiveness. We are always able to return to faith and hope in him. We often find that when we do our faith and our hope are stronger than ever before.

For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.