Rev. Kent A. Beausoleil, S.J.

27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time                                                                                            10/07/2007

 

 

When I was a young boy it was easy to have faith.  I remember going to Mass with my family, attending CCD classes, later on going to Catholic Junior High, and being so in tune with God and with my faith that it was natural for me to think about serving the Church as an ordained minister.  In fact, while other kids were out playing cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians, I would frequently put on my dad=s black and brown plaid flannel robe, put grape juice in a wine glass, and smash flat pieces of wonder bread to make communion wafers, all so I could give a pretend Mass for all my friends.  Now needless to say, in my dad=s worn bath-robe, grape juice in one hand, and flattened bread in the other, I was a very popular kid.  In fact, I firmly believed, during those junior high years, a phrase so often repeated by Sister Mary Gonsalvo, AGod=s in heaven, all is right with the world@.  Four years later, that salvo of faith, became anything but.

The next four years of high-school saw my rock steady faith shaken to the core by a series of events that shook that foundation to near breaking.  The spring of my freshman year in High-School I was mugged after school.  I was stabbed, beaten with a two by four, and had mace sprayed in my face by a group of six upper class guys.  Their reward was a quarter I had in my back pocket.  Sophomore year my best friend from Junior High committed suicide stemming from an abusive home life.  Junior year my mother, an avid smoker, was diagnosed with emphysema and not predicted to live much longer.  And Senior year three class-mates, drinking and then driving after prom were killed when their car crashed into a tree.  With each progressive year I could feel my faith slip away and anger and angst replace it.  I questioned my faith and I questioned the reality of a good and loving God.  God was in heaven, yet all was not right with the world.

Each of our readings today, offer faith questioning moments, moments where things are not quite right in the world.  The prophet Habbakuk, angry at the injustice that surrounds him, sad in realizing that the people of Israel are no longer living in right relationship with God or with one another, openly challenges God for not hearing the people and saving them.  He has lost his faith in the Lord and believes the Lord has abandoned them.  The pain, suffering, and anguish throughout the land, and in the lives of God=s chosen one=s, is palpably present. 

Paul, in Timothy, is in prison.  Imprisonment, and the world=s need for prisons, are faith weakening events.  Further, Paul does not deny that suffering is a part of his life nor does he deny that it is present in the world and this suffering can also weaken our faith.  Finally, the very demands of the disciples for an increase in faith testify to Jesus that their faith is less than complete and not fully actualized. 

This biblical world is not that much different than our world today.  We too look at the injustice and violence that surround us.  We too know full well that society still has a literal need for prisons.  We ourselves face figurative imprisonments of addictions, illnesses and bodies that as we grow older limit us.  Our own mental prisons keep us feeling unworthy and insecure.  Finally, many people face oppression at the hands of their fellow sisters and brothers.   There is a lot out there indeed to challenge our faith, to make us turn to the Lord and cry out, like a disgruntled Cubs fan Ahow long, O Lord,@ ALord give us strength,@ and Lord, increase our faith.@