Faith Beyond Space and Time

THE HISTORY OF SALVATION continues to develop in the midst of humanity. The Church-as spouse and widow, virgin and mother, saint and sinner-advances toward the heavenly banquet (cf. Apoc 21: 2) while giving away all her livelihood in order to have more abundant life (Mark 12: 42; Luke 21: 2). The Lord reveals himself in our history to every man and woman; he reveals himself to the Church amid the vicissitudes of life, where grace and sin are always intermingled. The strong stalks heavy with wheat grow tall beside the weaker shoots, and also beside the rugged weed. No one of us is spared doubts about the Lord's appearance, when it will take place or whether it will at all. Bewilderment besets both disciple and adversary, but despite our perplexed state there is always a call from God to keep moving forward, to let ourselves be touched by the revelation of grace that makes possible the "dis-covering" of the Lord.

THE PATHETIC, suspicious Herod Antipas felt a perplexing unease in his heart: "Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, ‘John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things? " (Luke 9: 7-9). Similar consternation will be seen at the end of time when conflicting voices will point to the nearness of the glorious Lord in diverse times and places (cf. Matt 24: 26-30). In his heart, John the Baptist, the greatest of those born of women, felt isolated in his bafflement; he feared he was mistaken. The clarity of the revelation he received on the day of Jesus' baptism (cf. John 1: 32-34) was now beclouded as he wasted away in prison, and doubt gnawed at his soul: "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another? " (Luke 7: 18-23). He passed through the crucible of doubt, uncertain about his mission, uncertain about his whole life. Humbling himself, John voiced his questions and received his reply. Then he bowed his head-to the point of having it severed.