Living and dying in faith

“Live in hope...” cynics say. “Die in despair.”

Today’s second reading (Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19) speaks of famous people of the past who died without receiving what had been promised to them “but (they) saw it and saluted it from afar.”

They “died in faith” just as they had lived in faith.

These lives of faith, by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, would bear fruit in the world without end.

These lives of faith would also bear fruit in this world, laying foundations of hope upon which future generations would build.

Faith builds, even if it is only faith in humanity alone (and how much more does it build if it is faith in alignment with the Creator of all things).

Cynicism sucks: it sucks away comfort from the past, it sucks enjoyment out of the present, and sucks away light from the future.

Today’s second reading and the example of the men and women who came before us call us to turn away from the voices of cynicism and to grasp firmly God’s gift of faith, so that no matter what may happen to us in this world, there may be hope and assurance in the ages of blessedness to come.