Once upon a time, a well-known holy monk built his hermitage on the far side of a wide, fast-flowing river. Each day a young girl came over the river on a ferryboat to bring him fresh fruits, vegetables and milk. Often, she was late, which annoyed the supposed holy man. Whenever that happened, the girl would apologize, explaining that the boat was late.
“That is foolish,” cried the holy man. “Child, anyone of faith with God’s name on their lips and God in their heart, should have no fear and walk over the waters without any difficulty. A person of faith should be not afraid.”
The next day, and every day after that, the girl appeared promptly.
The monk was delighted but puzzled by the promptness and asked, “How is it you now arrive on time?”
The girl replied, “Holy one, I’m doing as you told me. As a child of God, with God on my lips and God in my heart I have no fear, and I walk across the river.”
The holy monk was amazed that such a simple girl had this miraculous power and said to her, “This is well and good, but I will watch you and then I will also walk across the river.”
So, they went to the river. The girl’s lips were silently repeating the name of God and there was no fear since she had God on her lips and God in her heart. She stepped onto the river and walked across the water. Now it was the monk’s turn.
The holy man appeared fearful as he pulled up the hem of his cassock and began to murmur God’s name, stepping onto the river.
The young girl watched and saw he could not walk on the river. She called out, “Holy One, no wonder you are sinking. How is the name of God to carry you over the river, when you lift your cassock for fear of getting the hem wet? She recalled what Jesus said so often in the Sacred Scriptures, “Be not afraid.”
The gospel today tells us the same thing, “Do not be afraid any longer …” Are you and I like the monk? Are we hem holders? Are we fearful of letting go and letting God?
Our daily life is full of fears that challenge us, especially horrific mass shootings, riots, unpeaceful protests and hate.
We live in an age of distrust, suspicion and doubt. This mistrust causes us to live in fear and anxiety. Thus, we look for whatever will provide us with the security we crave.
Our houses, condominiums and apartments have multiple locks, outdoor lighting, doorbell cameras and surveillance cameras. Our cars and buildings have sophisticated security and alarm systems, as do public buildings and stores, sometimes with the addition of armed guards. Even here at St. Francis, we were advised to upgrade our security system after a recent vandalism, and we are a church!
The news fills us with fear. Between reading or listening to the news, the advertising media tells us that we need to drive the latest SUV, wear designer clothes and buy the latest electronics. There is, unfortunately, a tendency to believe in the news or advertising media more than Sacred Scriptures.
We need God on our lips and God in our hearts every day. We need the faith of the young girl, not the fear of the hem holder.
“Let your Faith be bigger than your fear.” Repeat after me. “Let your faith be bigger than your fear.” One more time. “Let your faith be bigger than your fear.” A person of faith should not be afraid.
Now, look at our Second Reading from the book of Hebrews. We need to repeat until we memorize the definition of faith from Chapter 11, Verse 1, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” One more time, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”
I will not let the media, scandals or fear distort my faith. I have personally experienced my God who loves me, cares for me and forgives me. My spiritual security system is my faith.
We could easily entitle the story that Jesus shares with us in the gospel this morning “The Spiritual Security System.” Jesus tells us to be like the servants who are prepared for the master’s return from a wedding, even though they do not know the time. Weddings in the time of Jesus lasted between eight and ten days. Stay wide awake and be on your guard!
Jesus never tells us exactly when the end or final days will come. He tells us we do not have to live in fear, but to be wide awake and be on guard. I always think it is strange when I hear of a person or group of people who seem to be able to predict with certitude when the second coming will happen. Even Christ, God himself, never did that.
Staying awake, being ready and being on guard means having faith and not living in fear.
I like this story told about a priest and soap maker who were walking together.
The soap maker said, “What good is faith? Look at all the trouble and misery in the world after all these years of preaching and teaching truth and promoting peace. What good is faith?”
The priest said nothing for a while as they continued walking until the priest noticed a small child playing in the mud. “Look at that child playing with the mud and it is all over him. Doesn’t soap make people clean?”
“Yes,” said the soap maker.
“But see the mud on that child? What good is soap?” said the priest.
The soap maker responded, “But Father, soap isn’t any good unless it is used.”
The priest said, “That’s the point. Faith isn’t any good unless it is used.”
There is plenty of soap and plenty of faith, but they must be used.
May each of us have faith, which is the realization of what we hope for,
and evidence of things not seen.
May each of us stop being hem holders.
May each of us have God on our lips and God in our hearts every day,
as we journey through the raging rivers of life.
May our faith be our spiritual security system.
May our faith be bigger than our fear.
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