theological virtue of faith - 7th week tuesday 2014

When Jesus asked the disciples, “who do people say that I am,” the disciples answered, “Elijah, John the Baptist, or one of the prophets.”  Then Jesus asked again, “but you, who do you say that I am?”  Peter volunteered to answer saying, “You are Christ, the Son of the living God.”  And Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

This is what we mean when we say that faith, the first of the theological virtues is a gift that comes from God alone.  On his own Peter cannot come up with that reply.  Relying on his reason alone, relying on his human knowledge alone, Peter cannot come up with that conclusion.  How can Jesus be Christ or Messiah – he cannot overthrow the Romans, he does not have political power – he does not have swords, armours, horses, catapults, and a well trained army to liberate the country.  How can he be Son of the living God when he is mere flesh and blood?  This is not logic, this is not scientific fact, this is not the result of an observable experimentation like we do in a science laboratory.  This, as Jesus said, was revealed by the Father to Peter.   This is the reason why Faith is a virtue because only Faith perfects the intellect.  Our human knowledge can only be perfected when it is aided by faith.

What is faith?  Faith is a virtue which enables us to assent with our intellects to the truths revealed by God not because we comprehend them, but only on the authority of God who can neither deceive nor be deceived.
We believe not because it is logical, not because we can totally comprehend and understand what is being taught.  Rather we believe because God reveals it and God can neither deceive nor be deceived. 

There is nothing in our faith that we can fully understand.  How can you fully understand the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, in the bread that you are receiving in holy communion.  How do you know that this is Jesus whom you are receiving?  It does not look like Jesus, it does not taste like Jesus, it does not smell like Jesus.  But because Jesus said that this is his body we believe, we believe even if we do not understand because Jesus says so and he is God who can neither deceive not be deceived.  St. Thomas Aquinas composed the Tantum Ergo which we sing during benediction and there is a part there which says praestet fides suplementum sensuum defectui – let faith supply for the failure, for the defects of our senses.

In our gospel today the disciples did not understand why Jesus had to suffer death, why Jesus had to be handed over to men who will kill him.  Why?  They did not understand and they were afraid to ask.  It is only when they received the Holy Spirit that everything made sense – why he had to suffer, why Jesus had to die.

Today pray for faith, for the gift of faith.  I know there are so many things that bother us in our belief, things that disturb us in our relationship with God.  There are a lot of doubts too in our hearts, doubts that make us hesitant, misgivings that make our less trusting.  You have already the gift of faith, pray for an increase in the gift, practice the faith, believe even if it is difficult Throw your cares in the Lord, as the psalms would say, for St. Paul reminds us time and again, “we walk by faith and not by sight.”