We Live in the Tension Between Hope and the Reality of Faith
August 9, 2025 at 10:33 a.m.
Gospel reflection for August 10, 2025, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Hebrews defines faith as “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” The author views faith as the possession of that in which we have placed our hope, even though we have not yet seen its fulfillment. Jesus told his disciples that they already possessed the Kingdom and that they must invest all that they have and are into that kingdom. For the disciple in a postmodern world even the assurances of hope seem vague as we live under the cloud of suspicion of that which we cannot see. When our treasure is solely in this world, we miss the reality of the Kingdom which surrounds us.
The question of faith is one that is deeply challenging in our own times. Those who have faith wonder about those who do not, and those who do not look risky with those who do. Mile this is not a modern phenomenon, it is becoming more and more prevalent in our own times. We wonder why faith, faith in God, faith in the incarnation and Paschal mystery Jesus Christ, faith in the work of the Holy Spirit, should be so divisive.
While Jesus did say that he came not to bring peace that was a reflection not of his intent but rather the effect of his preaching and his ministry. While there has always been some division between those who have faith and those who do not, the question is what we do with that in our own time.
Everyone’s worldview is governed by faith. Those who believe ardently in their religious convictions are convinced by the faith that they hold that their faith is true. Those who place all of their hope and experience on the real world, carry either a scientific or nihilistic worldview do so through the conviction of a faith that they are holding onto truth. None of us lives without faith, the question is whether that faith leads us to hope or to despair; to look outside of ourselves, or to be self-focused; to love or to self-aggrandizement.
Our time in history is extremely uncertain. We are confused by the acts of war, violence and terrorism. To some extent this challenge to our worldview should bring us to a deeper realization of the need to strengthen our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ, but many see religious faith as the cause and not the solution. The polar opposite views of the world and of religious faith even among those who are religious, brings much confusion and tension when it should bring clarity and peace.
Faith has consequences. It challenges us to a broader worldview; to change our personal behavior as well as to begin to change the world around us. The increasing lack of overt religious faith that we experience in our culture represents a reticence to impose our religious faith not only on the world around us but even to some extent on ourselves. What we are experiencing is not as much a lack of faith but a fear of religious faith and its consequences.
To some extent one might argue that that means that we recognize the value of faith probably more than most other times in history. Those who are struggling with faith consider the impact of what that faith means in their lives. We ought to be challenged in a significant way by those who deny the importance of faith in their lives. We must grow deeper and more committed in our own experience of faith. To an extent they are challenging us to step up and to show the importance of faith on a day-to-day basis and how we live that in our lives.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.
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Gospel reflection for August 10, 2025, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Hebrews defines faith as “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” The author views faith as the possession of that in which we have placed our hope, even though we have not yet seen its fulfillment. Jesus told his disciples that they already possessed the Kingdom and that they must invest all that they have and are into that kingdom. For the disciple in a postmodern world even the assurances of hope seem vague as we live under the cloud of suspicion of that which we cannot see. When our treasure is solely in this world, we miss the reality of the Kingdom which surrounds us.
The question of faith is one that is deeply challenging in our own times. Those who have faith wonder about those who do not, and those who do not look risky with those who do. Mile this is not a modern phenomenon, it is becoming more and more prevalent in our own times. We wonder why faith, faith in God, faith in the incarnation and Paschal mystery Jesus Christ, faith in the work of the Holy Spirit, should be so divisive.
While Jesus did say that he came not to bring peace that was a reflection not of his intent but rather the effect of his preaching and his ministry. While there has always been some division between those who have faith and those who do not, the question is what we do with that in our own time.
Everyone’s worldview is governed by faith. Those who believe ardently in their religious convictions are convinced by the faith that they hold that their faith is true. Those who place all of their hope and experience on the real world, carry either a scientific or nihilistic worldview do so through the conviction of a faith that they are holding onto truth. None of us lives without faith, the question is whether that faith leads us to hope or to despair; to look outside of ourselves, or to be self-focused; to love or to self-aggrandizement.
Our time in history is extremely uncertain. We are confused by the acts of war, violence and terrorism. To some extent this challenge to our worldview should bring us to a deeper realization of the need to strengthen our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ, but many see religious faith as the cause and not the solution. The polar opposite views of the world and of religious faith even among those who are religious, brings much confusion and tension when it should bring clarity and peace.
Faith has consequences. It challenges us to a broader worldview; to change our personal behavior as well as to begin to change the world around us. The increasing lack of overt religious faith that we experience in our culture represents a reticence to impose our religious faith not only on the world around us but even to some extent on ourselves. What we are experiencing is not as much a lack of faith but a fear of religious faith and its consequences.
To some extent one might argue that that means that we recognize the value of faith probably more than most other times in history. Those who are struggling with faith consider the impact of what that faith means in their lives. We ought to be challenged in a significant way by those who deny the importance of faith in their lives. We must grow deeper and more committed in our own experience of faith. To an extent they are challenging us to step up and to show the importance of faith on a day-to-day basis and how we live that in our lives.
Father Garry Koch is pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Holmdel.