The journey of faith takes us down quite a road. As conversion first stirs our hearts, we discover a joy beyond anything we could have imagined before. Through the eyes of faith, the Gospel just makes so much sense; it’s sustained and consistent; it’s the Truth. Coming to know God creates a real buoyancy of spirit that lightens every burden and eases every load. New faith in God brings such happiness, but the journey does not end there; it gets so much better.
As we continue along the path, our faith becomes stronger as it is challenged. Like silver refined in fire, we encounter opposition. In a new way, we encounter the world — we engage those who don’t believe, and we face those who are hostile to those who do believe. Our faith challenges their world view. If what we believe is true, then what they believe cannot be true. Therefore, in the eyes of a defiant world, we must be wrong, misguided, wacko. That criticism could challenge our faith, but today’s Gospel offers comfort.
Strength in the face of the world’s ire comes from the very faith the world seeks to undermine. Alone I cannot stand up to the slings and arrows, but with God I can. “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.” As are all things in the spectacular tapestry of God’s design, this persistence in the face of opposition is purposeful.
When we stand firm and joyful in the Truth as the world rages, not only do we grow in faith, but we also awaken something in the world. The response of calm in the wake of chaos is unworldly, and it ignites curiosity in those who encounter it. So often, the rage turns to wonder; kindness in the face of cruelty softens hearts and unclenches fists. The hand once raised against us then finds courage to take our hand offered in friendship and join us on the path of faith.
Not in spite of the gift of faith we have received but rather because of it, we will encounter an angry world. That is to be expected throughout the journey because, as Jesus explains, “they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.” We are called to respond to these trials like Christ did. Everything He did helped those around Him get to know the one who sent Him. Step by step, our journey of faith must strive to do the same.
El camino de la fe nos lleva por un camino muy largo. Cuando la conversión conmueve nuestro corazón, descubrimos una alegría que va más allá de todo lo que pudiéramos haber imaginado antes. A través de los ojos de la fe, el Evangelio tiene mucho sentido; es sostenido y consistente; es la Verdad. Llegar a conocer a Dios crea una verdadera alegría de espíritu que aligera y alivia toda carga. Una nueva fe en Dios trae mucha felicidad, pero el camino no termina allí; se hace mucho mejor.
Mientras avanzamos por el camino, nuestra fe se va fortaleciendo a medida que es retada. Como plata refinada en fuego, encontramos oposición. De una manera nueva, nos enfrentamos al mundo: nos relacionamos con aquellos que no creen y nos enfrentamos a aquellos que son hostiles a los que sí creen. Nuestra fe desafía su visión del mundo. Si lo que creemos es verdad, entonces lo que ellos creen no puede ser verdad. Por lo tanto, a los ojos de un mundo desafiante, debemos estar equivocados, desorientados, locos. Esa crítica podría desafiar nuestra fe, pero el Evangelio de hoy ofrece consuelo.
La fuerza frente a la ira del mundo proviene de la misma fe que el mundo intenta socavar. Solo no puedo hacer frente a las hondas y flechas, pero con Dios sí puedo. “Si el mundo los odia, sepan que me ha odiado a mí antes que a ustedes”. Como todas las cosas en el espectacular tapiz del diseño de Dios, esta persistencia frente a la oposición tiene un propósito.
Cuando nos mantenemos firmes y alegres en la Verdad mientras el mundo se enfurece, no solo crecemos en la fe, sino que también despertamos algo en el mundo. La respuesta de calma tras el caos es sobrenatural y enciende la curiosidad en quienes la encuentran. Con mucha frecuencia, la rabia se convierte en asombro; la bondad frente a la crueldad ablanda los corazones y abre los puños. La mano que una vez se levantó contra nosotros luego encuentra el valor para tomar nuestra mano ofrecida en amistad y unirse a nosotros en el camino de la fe.
No a pesar del don de la fe que hemos recibido, sino más bien gracias a él, nos encontraremos con un mundo enojado. Esto es de esperarse durante todo el camino porque, como explica Jesús, “Todo esto se lo van a hacer por mi causa, pues no conocen a aquel que me envió”. Estamos llamados a responder a estas pruebas como lo hizo Cristo. Todo lo que hizo ayudó a quienes lo rodeaban a conocer a Aquel que lo envió. Paso a paso, debemos esforzarnos por hacer lo mismo a lo largo de nuestro camino de fe.
Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.
Feature Image Credit: Jeff Finley, unsplash.com/photos/forest-trees-with-pathway-FfGSxv4lITs
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