Friday, September 17, 2010

Where Would We Be Without It

"If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you shall still be in your sins." First Corinthians, 15:12-20, one of today's lectionary readings.
Faith is an illusive thing to describe to someone who has not recognized the gift of faith given to him. It is not explainable, like your brown hair is ("All Mom's family had brown hair.") But if you have faith, you know it. You know it becaue you are at peace despite your sinfulness and suffering. You know it because you move with hope. You know it because you can stop and be still and see where you have been and how far you have come to be where you are now. You can stop and be still and find yourself in the presence of God and know its God. You came to this place through the risen Christ. You didn't get here because you read Augustine or Paul, or Merton, or B16 or anyone else. You didn't get here because of a seminar or course or jump-up, feel-good parish mission. You got here because Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. All of the above mentioned may have helped you get here, but they are not the reason you are here.

We often pray to thank God for our gifts, and we think of family, friends, stuff, etc. Thank God for the Gift today. The Risen Christ that makes your faith a reality.

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