July 2nd - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Spanish)
Father Chris was on Vacation for 2 weeks in July, but he submitted these Homilies
July 9th - 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (English) Fr. Daniel Rayer
July 16th - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (English)Fr. Daniel Rayer
July 23rd - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (English)
July 30th - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(English)
We’ve all see plenty of medical shows on television.
The patient is very sick. He is hooked up to many tubes and wires.
The family and friends keep vigil hoping and waiting that the person will
wake up and recover. Then the doctor comes in. Everyone turns
to him. He outlines everything that has been done to this point.
Then he says those words that no one wants to hear. He says, “There’s
nothing more that we can do.”
On television you know it is a story. You turn it off
and go to bed. Tomorrow is a new day. But when those words,
“There is nothing more that we can do,” are told to you when it’s your
mother or grandmother they burn deeply in your mind. You say that
can’t be. There must be something further to be done. There
has to be something else which hasn’t been tried; maybe a new procedure
or experimental drug? You don’t want to face that inevitable moment
when it’s time to let go.
We have sophisticated technology that helps people get through
tremendous injury and suffering. Literally miracles are accomplished
every day in hospitals. In fact, the miracles wrought through our
technology have become so expected that we can’t believe there is a limit.
Many physicians have a hard time accepting that point at which there is
nothing further that can be done.
It seems perfectly natural to hear of two people in the scriptures
who have been told that there is nothing that can be done. The first
is the woman with the hemorrhage. She has been going to doctors of
every sort for years. Everything has been tried. She still
isn’t cured and now all of her money is gone too. The second story
starts out hopeful. Jairus comes to the Lord and asks him to come
and heal his daughter. Jesus sets out for the house. But before
he gets there the girl has died and the people in the house tell Jairus
that there is nothing further that can be done. In both cases it
would have been reasonable for the people to accept that fact. But
they don’t.
The woman with the hemorrhage believes that Jesus has the
power to heal even if all human resources have been exhausted. She
knows that Jesus is from God and God desires healing and wholeness for
his people. She touches Jesus and is cured. She knows it.
Jesus knows it. Both could have gone their way keeping this secret
to themselves. Jesus doesn’t allow that to happen. Why?
I believe that Jesus knew even greater faith was going to
be required when he got to Jairus’ house. Jesus needed to let Jairus
and the crowds know that with God all things are possible. I believe
that Jesus also needed to let the woman know that it wasn’t by simple magic
that she was cured. It was through faith. Because she trusted
even when it seemed hopeless to do so, she was restored to full health.
There’s another part to this healing which is important.
A woman with a flow of blood was considered ritually unclean. She
could not participate in the rituals of the faith. When she touched
Jesus he became ritually unclean. Jesus lets her know that she is
healed and can now be a full daughter of Israel. She is restored
in body and spirit before God.
At Jairus’ house the mourners have already arrived.
They are filling the house with the wailing of grief. Jesus reminds
them that what they need is faith. Jairus knows that Jesus can do
things no one else can do. He just witnessed it a short time before
with the healing of the woman. Now, despite the darkest moment in
his life, his little girl is dead, he must believe and trust in God.
He must believe that God has not abandoned him. How hard it is to
believe and trust at that moment. It takes every ounce of strength
in his body and the grace of God to be able to do that. Yet, he trusts.
Jesus works a great miracle for him. He raises the little girl back
to life. She is fully restored to health.
What does it take to believe when everyone else says it’s
hopeless? Is it foolishness? Is it being naïve?
Some would say so. I think not.
Faith is saying that I recognize the limitations the world
imposes. I know that sickness and death exist. I cannot change
that. However, in life and in death I belong to the Lord. I
will be His faithful follower come what may. That is faith.
Faith is saying that I know God is greater than any pain or suffering that
this world imposes. It is saying that the riches of God are not spent.
He constantly pours out new graces and blessings. The well is not
empty, even if it looks like it right now. That is faith. Faith
is also saying that health and wholeness are more than what we see.
Our bodies can be physically fine and we can have dead spirits within.
Likewise a person racked with cancer or in a wheelchair or nursing home
appears to be useless. Yet their spirit is dancing because of the
mercy and love of Christ. That is faith.
When you hear the words, “There is nothing more that can be
done,” rejoice and know that God is with you and His power is greater than
anything you can imagine. What is required is faith.
Domingo 13 de Tiempo Ordinario 
Todos hemos visto bastantes programas de medicina en la television.
El paciente está bien enfermo. Lo tienen atado a un sin fin
de tubos y alambres. La familia y amigos mantienen vigilancia en
espera y con la esperanza que la persona se recupere y despierte.
Entonces el medico entra. Todos se vuelven a el. El le delinea
todo lo que se ha hecho hasta este punto. Entonces el dice aquellas
palabras que nadie quiere oir. El dice, “Ya no hay mas nada que podamos
hacer.”
En la television sabemos que és una historia. Tu la
apagas y te vas a la cama. Mañana es un nuevo dia. Pero
cuando esas palabras, “No hay mas nada que se pueda hacer.” Te las dicen
a ti cuando es tu mamá o tu abuela te queman en lo mas profundo
de tu mente. Tu dices que no puede ser. Tiene que haber algo
que se pueda hacer. Tiene que haber algo que no se ha tratado; ¿quizás
un nuevo procedimiento o una nueva droga?
No quieres enfrentarte con ese momento inevitable cuando llega.
Nosotros
tenemos tecnologia sofisticada que ayudan a las personas a superar tremendas
heridas y sufrimientos. Literalmente muchos milagros suceden todos
los dias en los hospitales. De hecho, los milagros que se logran con nuestra
tecnologia son tan frequentes que no podemos creer que existe un limite.
A muchos medicos se les hace dificil aceptar ese punto donde ya no hay
mas nada que hacer.
Parece perfectamente
natural oir a dos personas en las escrituras a quienes se les ha dicho
que ya no hay mas nada que hacer. La primera es la mujer con la hemorragia.
Ella ha estado visitando a medicos por muchos años. Todo ha
sido tratado. Ella no se ha curado y ya se le ha terminado todo su
dinero. La segunda historia comienza con una esperanza. Jairo
viene al Señor y le pide que venga y sane a su hija. Jesus sale
hacia la casa. Pero antes de llegar la niña muere y la gente de
la casa le dice a Jairo que no hay mas nada que hacer. En ambos casos
hubiese sido razonable que las personas aceptaran esa realidad. Pero
ellos no.
La mujer
con la hemorragia cree que Jesus tiene el poder de sanar aunque todos los
recursos han sido agotados. Ella sabe que Jesus es de Dios y Dios
desea sanación y totalidad para su pueblo. Ella toca a Jesus
y es curada. Ella lo sabe. Jesus lo sabe. Ambos pudieron
muy bien seguir su camino y callarselo. Jesus no permite que eso
suceda. ¿Porqué?
Yo creo que
Jesus sabia que se iba a necesitar una mayor fe cuando llegó a la
casa de Jairo. Jesus necesitaba dejarle saber a Jairo y demas personas
que con Dios todas las cosas son posibles. Yo creo que Jesus tambien
necesitaba dejarle saber a la mujer que no fué simple magia que
ella fuera curada. Fué a través de la fe. Porque
ella confió aun cuando todo se veia sin esperanza, ella se le restableció
su salud por completo.
Hay otra parte
de ésta sanación que és bien importante. Una
mujer con un derrame de sangre se le concideraba ritualmente impura.
Ella no podia participar en los rituales de la fe. Cuando ella toca
a Jesus el se hace ritualmente impuro. Jesus le deja saber que ella esta
sanada y que ahora puede ser una hija de Israel por completo. Ella es restaurada
en cuerpo y espiritu ante Dios.
Ya los dolientes
han llegado a la casa de Jairo. Estan llenando la casa con los sollozos
de pena. Jesus les recuerda que lo que necesitan es fe. Jairo
sabe que Jesus puede hacer cosas que otros no pueden. Un rato atras
el habia sido testigo de la sanación de una mujer. Ahora,
a pesar del momento mas nebrusco de su vida, su pequeña niña
está muerta. El tiene que creer y confiar en Dios. El
tiene que creer que Dios no le ha abandonado. Cuan dificil será
creer y confiar en ese momento. Se necesita toda onza de fuerza en
su cuerpo y la gracia de Dios para poder hacerlo. Sin embargo
el confia. Jesus hace un gran milagro por el. El levanta la niña
a la vida. Ella es totalmente restablecida.
¿Que
es lo que se necesita para creer cuando todos dicen que es imposible?
¿Es tonteria? ¿Es ser ingenuo? Algunos diran
que no. Yo creo que no.
La fe es
decir que yo reconozco las limitaciones que el mundo impone. Yo sé
que enfermedad y muerte existen. No puedo cambiar eso. Sin
embargo, en la vida y en la muerte yo pertenezco al Señor.
Yo seré un seguidor fiel venga lo que venga. Eso es fe.
Fe es decir que yo sé que Dios es mas grande que cualquier dolor
o sufrimiento que el mundo imponga. Es decir que las riquezas de
Dios no se gastan. El constantemente derrama gracias y bendiciones.
El pozo no está vacio, aunque asi parezca en estos momentos.
Eso es fe. Fe es tambien decir que la salud y totalidad son algo
mas de lo que vemos. Nuestros cuerpos pueden estar fisicamente bien
y podemos tener un espiritu muerto interiormente. Por otro lado una
pesona atormentada por un cancer o en una silla de ruedas o en un
asilo aparenta ser inutil. Sin embargo sus espiritus estan
bailando por la misericordia y amor de Cristo. Eso és fe.
Cuando ustedes
oigan estas palabras, “No hay mas nada que hacer,” Regosijensen
y sepan que Dios esta con ustedes y su poder es mas grande de lo que jamás
podiamos imaginar. Lo que se requiere es fe.
When I think of having an abundance of food I don’t usually
think of bread. Yes, bread is everywhere and is part of virtually
every meal, but I think of meat. I think of having a thick juicy
steak or maybe even a Cornish hen. I also think of wonderful seafood.
I love eating shrimp and crab. To me the heavenly banquet would be
a seafood buffet. I would imagine most of us who live in America
would have a similar notion of what abundant food would look like.
Yet, for most of the world meat would not be common.
Even seafood would not be eaten. Instead, the common staple would
be some kind of bread. In the Northern Hemisphere that would be loaves
of bread made from wheat or oats, rye or cornmeal. In other parts
of the world their breads would actually be starches from pasta or rice.
But every culture has a staple that most people live on daily.
When the prophet Elisha was given a few barley loaves to feed
to the people his servant thought there would never be enough. God
reassured the prophet and his servant that if they trusted there would
be more than enough to feed the crowd. A similar story is told in
the Gospel. Jesus feeds not only a hundred people with barley loaves
but over 5000. If Philip and the other apostles have faith it can
be done.
This story of the miraculous feeding on the mountainside can
remind us that we don’t have to worry about the things of life. With
faith in God there will always be a sufficiency. Likewise this story
could be viewed from two different angles. Was it a miracle of multiplication?
Did Jesus give magically transform 5 loaves into food for 5000? It
seems that way. Or was it a miracle of generosity. Jesus, who
is God, gives generously to the people everything he has. The loaves
and fishes are all the apostles have to eat. Jesus gives it away.
By doing so the people soon realize they don’t have to hold back their
generosity. They begin to open their satchels and take from them
the food they brought with them. They share with those around them.
Soon there is not only enough food, but also twelve baskets left over.
The miracle opens up people’s hearts to see those around them in a new
way. It could be. Both are miracles. Yet, which one would
we rather see?
Most of us would like to see Jesus multiply loaves.
I remember growing up thinking how this must have happened. Could
it be that each time the apostles broke off a piece of the bread the loaf
still remained the same size? I wondered if they took all the bread
and broke it into fragments and put it in covered baskets. Each person
took a piece, but no one knew how much was there to start. So everyone
ate and there were leftovers. I think most of us would like that
kind of miracle.
I believe the same is true with the Eucharist. We have
a miracle occur every Sunday on this altar. The bread and wine become
the Body and Blood of Christ. They are no longer bread and wine,
but only appear that way. Yet, we don’t see any change. Do
you sometimes think to yourself if you saw some physical change to the
Eucharist, then there would be no doubts? You would know this is
truly Christ’s Body and Blood. Some recent polls suggest that many
Catholics no longer believe in the real presence in the Eucharist.
Maybe they are waiting for the miracle to look different.
There is another aspect to this miracle. In most cultures
eating is more than just nourishing the body. There is a social dimension
to it. When you eat with a person you become one with them.
There is a bond that is created. Therefore you had to be careful
about who you ate with. You wouldn’t eat with someone who was a different
social class. Jews didn’t eat with pagans. You wouldn’t eat
with servants either. That would violate the proper social order.
Jesus fed everyone from his loaves. He is eating with everyone on
that hill. Some of those people would not be from the right class
or social standing. That doesn’t matter to Christ. Likewise,
since this food is shared by all, everyone present now has a bond with
everyone else through Christ.
That is what St. Paul meant when he said that there is a unity
that is created in the Eucharist through Christ. We belong to one
another. Therefore the Eucharist bonds each of us here to one another.
There can be no division of race or language here. All belong around
the table of the Lord. It is so important that we never look down
on one another because of the way someone dresses or acts. If they
have come to the Lord to be fed by the same Eucharist that feeds us, we
are now one with them.
Over the next month we will reflect on the Eucharist as miracle,
as food, as the real presence of Christ, and as the source of unity among
us. Each time you come to Mass, remember what you do and with whom
you eat. You take into yourself the Body and Blood of Christ.
Although it may still look and taste like bread and wine it is not.
You should be reverent to Christ in the Eucharist and in your brothers
and sisters around you. You are one with them through Christ.
This is an awesome mystery to be pondered often. Amen.
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
As the old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Unfortunately, the people of Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth had done just that with Jesus. “Is not this the carpenter?” They had known Him for years. They knew His mother and relatives. They could not accept the fact that someone who appeared to be so ordinary was filled with such great wisdom. How could one who was no better than themselves be so outstanding? Surely this carpenter named Jesus could not have great wisdom or the ability to work miracles. The people’s pride got in the way. If only they would have put their pride aside and had faith, then maybe they would have judged Him by His teaching instead of rejecting Him because of who He appeared to be to them.
The people of Nazareth also rejected Jesus because He was calling them to religious and moral conversion. Jesus spoke like the prophets. He spoke the hard message about sinfulness and the need for repentance and conversion. However, the result of Jesus’ preaching was not one of conversion, but of a hardening of the heart. Jesus offers the good news of forgiveness of sins and the coming of the kingdom of God. The people should have rejoiced that they were privileged to hear this message. They should have been the ones to accept Jesus’ message, setting the tone for all of Israel. Instead, their “no” sends a loud tremor throughout Israel. Their rejection would be a foreshadowing of the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of the people, rejecting the claim that Jesus was the promised Messiah. But unknown to them, their rejection of Jesus put into action God’s plan of redemption and salvation. It would be through Christ’s death on the cross that would open the door for humanity to have life eternal with the Trinity.
But this is not the first time that God has known rejection. In the First Reading, the prophet Ezekiel is sent by God to a “nation of rebels.” How hard a task this must have seemed to Ezekiel: to preach to a people who did not want to listen to the word of God. But God never gets turned off. He always will be faithful. The people of Israel were God’s chosen people. He had made a covenant with them. He had treated them like a loving Father, leading them out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. Despite this, the people murmured and rebelled and forgot about God. It was the result of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God that brought on them the Babylonian exile. But God still does not abandon them. Ezekiel is sent to them to preach the word of God. Some will listen and some will not, but at least the people will know “that a prophet has been among them.”
In contrast to the rejection shown in the First Reading and the Gospel, we have the acceptance of St. Paul. He accepts all the hardships that he has been given. He recognizes that his weakness is his strength. He had prayed that his ailment would be taken away. When it wasn’t, he doesn’t rebel, but he boasts in his weakness because it shows forth the power of Christ. Paul says “I am content with weakness, with mistreatment, with distress, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ; for when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong.” Paul shows us that life is not always a bed of roses. Life is full of difficulties and challenges, but our response must never be to reject Christ because of these; rather it is precisely when we are weak and suffer life’s hardships that we must turn to Christ. God’s power is all the more visible when he works through the weak. Paul shows that he did not suffer the pride that the people of Nazareth did.
Therefore, we must follow the example of St. Paul and not the example of the people of Nazareth or the nation of Israel in Ezekiel’s time. Pride is a dangerous vice to have. It can be very easy to reject God in our lives when He challenges us to become better people. We are often a people who do not like to listen to the hard truth. As we sometimes reject God when we sin, we must also expect that we are going to have to face rejection when we do live out the Christian message. Being a follower of Christ is counter-cultural. We must be determined to be faithful to the Gospel, not matter if we will be rejected by society or even our family and friends. Even Christ Himself was rejected by His hometown people.
We must ask God to bless us with the virtue of humility, so
that we can accept His teaching and accept whatever hardships He gives
us. Let us renew our own loyalty to Christ, and pray for those who
reject Him. May they one day come to accept Christ, and may we always
continue down the road that leads to the Kingdom.
Fr. Daniel Rayer
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“He predestined us through Christ Jesus to be His adopted sons.” St. Paul teaches us that our adoption as God’s children is the primary purpose of the incarnation. God has a systematic plan for salvation from all eternity, which was to make us His adopted sons and daughters by means of the Incarnation of His only begotten Son, Jesus. We were chosen “before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight, to be full of love.” How wonderful a gift this is that God has bestowed on us. How grateful we should be. We have been given a share in the supernatural life of Christ.
To say “I am a child of God” is no mere pious platitude. We truly are God’s children. We can cry out “Abba, Father.” We have been begotten by God through our Baptism. In Baptism the fruits of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ are applied to our souls and we are born anew into a new life of grace. As the Rite of Baptism says “you have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ.” What does this mean, but that in some way our lowly sinful nature has been transformed and elevated so that we share in the divine nature of God. We are God’s children because God’s life is present in our souls in the state of sanctifying grace.
Being a child of God should change our outlook on life. We must always be aware of who we are, so that our every act and our very behavior is in accord with our elevated dignity. We are to be children who are “full of love,” not full of selfishness and disobedience. We are to be children who fully respect all of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, since they are God’s children also. We are to be children who live a life of absolute trust in the goodness of our Heavenly Father. We should have peace of mind that we can always trust that God is leading us to what is best for us, even when difficulties in our lives seem to be overpowering us. To remember that we are God’s children should bring great comfort, peace and joy to our lives.
In our Gospel for today, Jesus sends the Twelve Apostles out on mission. Jesus wants them to go forth and bring His teaching and the story of His life and miracles to all people. They did not as yet fully know who Jesus really was or all that He would do, but they went in good faith to spread what they had seen and heard. They were to trust fully in the Providence of God, taking nothing on their journey except for what they needed, “no bread, no bag, no money.” Jesus was using the Twelve to lay the foundation of the Kingdom of God. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, these same apostles would go out again to spread the full message of the Gospel, letting people know that they were called to share in the sonship of Jesus.
In the First Reading, Amos is also sent to preach the word of God. However, he is silenced by the priest in charge of the sanctuary, Amaziah. Amos was expelled from their midst because those in authority could not handle the truth that Amos had been sent by God to preach. The prophets at this time were corrupt. They had sold out for money. They were more interested in earning their livelihood than in preaching the word of God. Therefore, these false prophets wanted Amos to be gone. Amos denies that he is a prophet like them. He is a simple herdsman and dresser of sycamore trees. He was only answering to the call that God gave him.
We should thank God that He does send out true prophets to speak the truth. We may not always want to hear what they have to say, but it is for our good to do so. The world from the very beginning has been trying to shut out the word of God because it does not like the truth. Much selfishness and many injustices plague our own world. Many people seem to have no concern for their neighbor. As Christians, we are called to be a light to the world. Our actions must speak loudly that we will listen to God’s word and will live it out. We should strive to imitate Amos and stand up for the hard truth when we must.
We must take our election as adoptive children of God very seriously,
knowing that, just as the Apostles were included in God’s plan, God also
desires to use us in bringing the good news of the Gospel to all the world.
If we live this calling out, the rewards are great. For if we are
brothers and sisters with Christ, we are also heirs with Him, heirs of
an eternal inheritance of life-everlasting in Heaven. Could there
be any better news than that?
Fr. Daniel Rayer
Did anyone here grow up on a farm? Did you raise animals
on your farm? I did not live on a farm growing up. Sometimes
there is an assumption made that if someone is from Wisconsin they must
have been on a farm. So, what I know of farming and raising of animals
comes from talking with others, what I learned at the State Fair, and what
I have read in books.
There were times when I imagined that it must have been an
interesting life raising animals. I imagined that it would be fun
watching calves being born or chickens hatching. I gathered that
if our family owned cattle we would always have a ready supply of meat,
butter, cheese, and milk. If we raised sheep or goats we would never
have to cut the grass either. This is what I imagined without actually
doing any of these things.
Later, I would learn that it can be fantastic to see new life
on a farm. It’s a lot of fun for a 14 yr. old to drive a huge tractor
or combine. But that is just one side of the story. I also
learned that with dairy cows they must be milked daily even in January
and February. They do not go on vacation, so if you want to, someone
else must milk your cows and you will then do the same for them when they
are away.
I also learned that animals can be stubborn. They can
get sick. They can harm you for no apparent reason. Tractors
must be fixed as well as a hundred other chores and jobs to keep a farm
running. Everyone works from sunup to sundown. You do chores
before school and after.
I am sure that raising children is the same too. Everyone
imagines how wonderful having a baby will be. They think of watching
that child take their first step, say their first words and go off to school.
Recently we saw the pride of many of you watching your children make their
First Communion and Confirmation. These are great.
Yet, in the same breath wouldn’t you also tell of infants
and toddlers who cry and you don’t know why? Of having to get up
in the middle of the night to care for a sick child or wait up when a teenager
has the car. You could tell me of the many times you told your children
to do something and they didn’t do it or of how difficult some children
are to discipline. Some kids have many problems in school or with
other children. If we had the time we could go around the room and
hear of many stories of how difficult parenting is.
The Lord needs good farmers. If we didn’t have patient
farmers who would work with the animals and keep going despite insects,
drought, and setbacks of all kinds none of us would eat. We need
good farmers.
I am glad that the Lord has blessed parents. There are
many parents who do a great job raising their children despite the many
problems and difficulties. Imagine if all the parents decided they
didn’t want to be parents anymore. What would children do?
Yes, we need good parents.
Because being a shepherd, being a parent, being a minister
of God’s people is hard work we don’t always do it well. We sometimes
make bad decisions. Sometimes we get tired or hungry and just want
to give up. We figure that it’s not worth all the hard work.
Today we hear the Lord say to us, “Come to an out of the way
place and rest awhile. I will take over so that you can eat and sleep.
I will shepherd my people and I will guide them.” Jesus rejoices
in the stories of the apostles who went forth and heard of the many ways
the apostles were doing great ministry. He probably heard of the
new followers who have decided to become disciples. Maybe some of
those who were sick or afflicted with any number of demons were cured by
the power given the apostles. This was good news! Maybe too,
Jesus heard of the times that the people said to the apostles, “No thanks,
I am not interested.” He would have heard of the many
ways that the apostles were rejected or misunderstood. He would help
them and console them in their frustration.
Today, the Lord hears your prayers as you speak them to Him.
As you pray so often for your children, God hears you. As you tell
Him of the many times you have been blessed by your children and grandchildren
the Lord rejoices with you. As you speak of your disappointments
and even your sins, the Lord forgives and consoles you.
But above all, the Lord reminds each of us that farming depends
half on the farmer and the other half on God. The farmer can’t control
the amount of rain or sun, the frosts that come late or early. He
can only do what he knows and leave the rest to God.
Parents bring children into the world. Yet, before very
long you realize that child has a personality separate from your own.
You can guide and direct your child, but soon they begin to make their
own choices and decisions, some good and some not so good. You know
that you must leave your children in the hands of the Lord for certainly
they belong to Him.
For me and for all shepherds of God’s people, I know that
I must do the work given me. I must be willing to care for the sheep
and love them. But they belong to God. God is the one who instills
faith and the one who waters the seeds that are planted. The Lord
is the shepherd of all of us and we are the sheep. To do the will
of God always knowing that the ultimate work belongs to God is faith.
We ask the Lord to grant us that kind of faith today and everyday.
Amen.