An Experience of Faith

Homily for Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Eastertide

Faith comes across at times in the Scriptures as very swift and clean; and other times its difficulty is more apparent.

In the first reading today we have the impression that the jailer, struck by the miraculous freeing of Paul and Silas, asked a basic question, heard the answer, and was baptized with his whole family. The reading ends: “…and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.”

In the Gospel text for today, however, the closest disciples of Jesus are so disturbed and at a loss over the things Jesus has been saying that grief fills their hearts.

Possibly the two readings taken together reflect the different moments of our faith. Sometimes our faith does seem clear and strong. We say, “Where would I be without it?” Other times our faith is cause for torment and sorrow. We ask, “Why did God allow this disaster?”

We should not be surprised that our faith goes through various phases and that it may be alternately strong and weak, joy-giving and frightening. Most likely faith involves some struggle, such as the two aspects of faith appearing in today’s reading. The words heard elsewhere in the Gospel of St. Mark are also fitting for any one of us at some time or another, or all the time: “Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief!”