Second Sunday of Easter – A – April 16, 2023
In Navigating Paul: An Introduction to Key Theological Concepts, Scripture scholar Jouette Bassler explains that the Greek root word pist encompasses more than its English counterpart “belief” implies. It includes the more relational action of “trust.” Similarly, liturgical theologian Nathan Mitchell describes faith as the “life-grounding trust . . . in the God and Father of Jesus Christ” (Called to Participate).
If we define belief as mere knowledge of the creed and church teachings, faith becomes a thing we consume and transact: belief conditionally exchanged for proof. But if we see that the belief Jesus invites all his disciples into is an ongoing relationship of life-grounding trust in him, then no test or lack of evidence can plant doubt in the person with that kind of faith.
I believe we are in a crisis of trust, where people desire to see the evidence of our faith proven by the way we live—and they have found us lacking. Click To TweetSome say that we are in a crisis of faith. So they look to science for evidence of Jesus’s real presence or scholastics to dissect the mystery of salvation. However, I believe we are in a crisis of trust, where people desire to see the evidence of our faith proven by the way we live—and they have found us lacking.
If we trust and believe in Jesus, let us live a life like his, ready where there is fear and doubt to open the locked doors of mistrust and offer a word of peace made visible by our self-giving love.
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