Fr. Michael Williams

Abraham and Sarah are two of the greatest examples of faith we have in the Bible. They were called by God to leave behind the securities they had known and were called to set out on an unfamiliar and strange journey, not knowing where they were going:

‘Trusting solely on God’s Promise they left the security of home to venture into the dark unknown’ (O’Flynn).

They trusted in God’s Promises despite the signs to the contrary. It looked as though God’s Promises to them were failing, but they continued to trust in His promises for them.

I am often touched by the examples of faith I see from the patients in hospital. Despite frailty, sickness-sometimes terminal- faith-filled patients continue to trust in God’s promises. I’ll give an example. Jesus says in St John’s Gospel, Chapter Six, Verse 51: ‘I am the living Bread which has come down from Heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live forever’. Now we eat this Bread of Life each week at Mass. But we will all die. But if we have faith we will trust in God’s Promise of eternal life. Last week a man who is terminally ill was hungry for the Bread of Life. He knew he was dying, but He has a depth of faith because he was a spiritual man, who has nourished his faith for ninety years! He knew God’s Promises are true: ‘Anyone who eats this Bread will live forever’.

In the parable today Jesus speaks of staying awake: He means staying awake in the faith. Many people’s Faith has fallen asleep and they are sleepwalking into eternity. Not a good idea. Jesus is very clear: ‘You must stand ready’.

Faith needs to be nourished and protected every day. Our Faith is often ridiculed and mocked today. It was the same for Abraham, Sarah, and all the faithful down the ages. These all nourished their Faith by prayer and by fidelity to God’s ways. Of course they were buffeted by the storms of life like everyone is. But they remained steadfast. We too need to nourish our Faith otherwise it will disappear. It’s a precious gift that needs protecting and nourishing.

We must ask the Lord to strengthen our faith when overwhelmed by doubts and temptations. Abraham and Sarah constantly turned to the Lord and His Strength; so must we, trusting in the Lord’s Promises.