Love and faith. Faith and love. We use the words daily. We pray for an increase of faith. We try to be more loving in all that we do. We love God and we have faith in God, but God first loved us and first had faith in us.

Hosea reminds us that God wants love rather than sacrifices which may become rote actions, devoid of feeling. God's love comes to us like rain that nourishes the earth. God wants faith, and with it trust. Abraham models both for us. He did not doubt God's promise of abundant descendants. He ignored his age and Sarah's. He trusted that God would do what God said. His faith and his love completely justified him.

Matthew was a man of great faith and courage. Two simple words: Follow me, and Matthew was up and running. He never looked back. He left all that he had, and it was considerable. Matthew sat at the feet of the Lord and absorbed Christ's lessons on mercy. He trusted whatever Jesus told him. He followed Jesus to Calvary and later journeyed to his own Calvary. Through his Gospel, Matthew has helped us learn that God is a God of love and forgiveness and that we can trust God in all things.

Prayer:
Loving God, thank you for the gift of faith. Without it, life would have little meaning. With it, life is a journey of being loved by You, of being called by You to share in your Life. Let us share this gift with others each day of our lives. Amen.

Sr. Monica Paul Fraser, O.P.

The Preaching Continues - Send your thoughts and reflections to:

Sr. Dorothy Maxwell, OP
Email: dmaxwell@opblauvelt.org