In my understanding, a mystery is something that changes
a person in relation to the Divine. The mystery of Christian faith is conveyed
through Baptism and is lived through every day. Faith in its ordinary meaning
encompasses loyalty and trust, so you may have faith in a football team that
lets you down, but remain loyal. Trust is what you have. Loyalty is what you
do.
Faith is the theological virtue that enables us to
believe in God and believe in Truth as revealed in Jesus’ words and Word.
That’s what makes Pilate’s question, “What is truth?” so interesting. Is Pilate
a Nazi Gauleiter jesting with his Jewish victim? Is this a Stoic rhetorical
question from his schooldays? Pilate is a man of action. He orders
crucifixions, many. He lacks faith, but finds no harm in Jesus. Why?
Faith isn’t intellectual assent to a set of
propositions. Nor is it blind, or unthinking. Faith is a Trinity surrounding
you with love and support. Believing is related to loving: you may love what
you trust, and trust what you love, and see miracles. In
the words of Tyndall’s 1526 translation of Luke, “Thy fayth hath made the safe.”
Go in peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment