Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (August 12, 2007)

Suggested Emphasis

"Faith is confident assurance concerning those things for which we hope, and conviction about that which we do not see."

"Do not live in fear."

Salesian Perspective

As followers of Jesus, we are called to live lives of faith. Each day, each hour, each moment of our lives should be faith-filled opportunities to grow in our love and knowledge of God, ourselves, and one another.

Today's Scriptures beg the question: What, exactly, is faith?

St. Francis de Sales distinguished between faith that is living, and faith that is dead: "Examine your works and actions. It is when all signs of life cease that we consider a person to be dead. So it is with faith. While in winter living trees may resemble dead ones, in their season they produce leaves, flowers and fruit. In the same way, while dead faith may appear to be living faith, only the latter bears the fruit of faith in all seasons. Living faith is excellent because, being united to love and vivified by love, it is strong, firm and constant."

People who are faith-filled, Francis de Sales would suggest, are living vigilant, strong, prudent and attentive lives. Adhering to the truth that God is love, that they are created, redeemed and inspired in love, and that they are called to share this love for others; faith-filled people are people of action, courage and perseverance, always moving forward, even toward things they do not see.

Compare this power and promise with the alternative: the decision to live in fear.

Today's Scriptures beg the question: What, exactly, is fear? "A state or condition marked by feelings of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger; a feeling of disquiet or apprehension." (American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

Folks who live in fear do not trust the truth that God is love; dare not believe that they are created and sustained in that love; must not take the risk of sharing that love with others. People who live in fear are people of inaction, discouragement and timidity. They long to turn back; they fear to look forward. People of fear are, in a real sense, already dead.

Make no mistake: people of faith are not immune to fear. They fear their own infidelity; they fear their own weakness; they fear their own sin. Sometimes, they likewise fear the infidelity, weakness and sin of others. But in the end, people of faith choose not to live in fear but to live in the truth of who God is, who God is calling them to be, and who God challenges them to be in the lives of their brothers and sisters.

People of faith are human beings who try their level best to be fully human. People of faith know that while fear is a part of life, there is more to life - much more - than fear.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS, is the Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.