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OCTOBER 18, 2007
The Virtue of Faith
Witnesses needed
Part Three
“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith” (Heb 12:1-2). With these words, the Letter to the Hebrews points to the key role played by witnesses in handing on the faith. Witnesses inspire us to believe in God and they strengthen our resolve to persevere in faith, even in the face of great suffering and hardship.
In previous editions of The Catholic Sun, we considered the essential elements of faith: trust, assent and obedience. We also looked at some properties of faith that we experience as believers, namely at faith’s obscurity and yet its certitude, at the risk entailed in believing and yet the wondrous, supernatural nature of this gift. Now let us turn our attention to the deeply personal topic of witnesses, on which our faith depends.
A cloud of witnesses
“Faith is a treasure of life which is enriched by being shared.” With these words, the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us of how the faith of each person is supported and strengthened by the faith and charity of others who believe in God (#949). We are not alone in our journey to faith or in our perseverance in it. As St. Paul writes (1 Cor 12:26-27), “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
We who believe are surrounded and uplifted on all sides by witnesses to God’s love. Some lived many centuries ago but continue to inspire us by the heroic example of their lives and to help us by their constant prayers. The New Testament speaks of the Apostles as being witnesses of Jesus’ death and Resurrection (Cf. Lk 24:46-48, Acts 1:8, 1 Pet 5:1). Saints in every age have continued to provide persuasive testimony to Christ and to strengthen the faith of others.
Other witnesses include our contemporaries in the Church who encourage us by their bold proclamation of the faith and their daily perseverance in the face of hardship. How could we not be heartened when such faithful witnesses surround us on every side? Their witness goes beyond an impersonal account of the facts of Jesus’ death and Resurrection; its convincing power lies in their personal commitment to Christ without counting the costs.
The testimony of others
To have faith means that I believe someone. I accept something as true because a person whom I trust has borne witness to it. St. Thomas Aquinas put it very simply (II, II, 11, 1), “Everyone who believes assents to the testimony of someone… In all belief, the decisive factor is who it is whose statement is assented to.”
What happens, however, if the witness whom I have trusted engages in activity that is scandalous? A crisis of faith, of course, inevitably occurs when a witness proves to be unworthy of trust. That is why “a cloud of witnesses” is of such importance, why a community of faith, not just one other person, is needed in our efforts to persevere. It is also why faith ultimately depends on the witness of God Himself (we shall say more on this a little later).
God allows scandals to occur, not to lead us into temptation but to allow our faith to mature. In his recent book, “Jesus of Nazareth,” Pope Benedict writes (p. 162), “In order to mature, in order to make real progress on the path leading from a superficial piety into profound oneness with God’s will, man needs to be tried. Just as the juice of the grape has to ferment in order to become a fine wine, so too man needs purifications and transformations; they are dangerous for him, because they present an opportunity for him to fall, and yet they are indispensable as paths on which he comes to himself and to God.”
The testimony of God
While our faith may begin on the basis of human testimony, in the end faith rests on the testimony of God. We believe God and we believe in God. On the basis of what He has revealed to us through the prophets and, above all, through His only begotten Son, we place our complete confidence in the Lord.
We believe that God reveals Himself to us, and that He cannot deceive nor be deceived. Moreover, we discover that, in accepting God’s revelation, we actually begin to have a share in His life. In fact, faith is the key that opens the door for this sharing to happen. Along with faith is needed the complementary virtues of humility and adoration.
Jesus is described in the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, as “the faithful witness” (1:5). This title seems especially appropriate since He is the eternal Word of God that reveals to us the mystery of the Blessed Trinity in all its fullness. In carrying out His mission, He remained faithful unto death on the Cross. Then, He rose from the dead, definitively conquering sin and death and opening for us the way to eternal life.
During His trial before Pontius Pilate, in a telling discussion about kingship, freedom and truth, Jesus says (Jn 18:37), “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” May we have the humility and wisdom to listen to the voice of Jesus and to believe.
For further reading:
-- Catechism of the Catholic Church, #142-184, #1814-1816
-- Joseph Pieper, “Faith, Hope, Love,” pp. 13-86
-- Benedict Ashley, OP, “Living the Truth in Love,” pp. 41-88
-- Avery Dulles, SJ, “The Assurance of Things Hoped For”
Copyright 2007 The Catholic Sun.
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