- *Faith* - - *Faith* - Gift Of God,Gift Of God,& Human & Human ResponseResponse

Hebrews 11:3Hebrews 11:3 ““By faith we understand By faith we understand that the universe was that the universe was

ordered by the word of God, so that what is ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.”visible came into being through the invisible.”

Nicene Creed: “I believe in one God… maker of Nicene Creed: “I believe in one God… maker of heaven and earth, heaven and earth, of all things visible and of all things visible and invisible.”invisible.”

Faith as a GiftFaith as a Gift

Matthew 16:13-20 Matthew 16:13-20 *Mt 16:17-18**Mt 16:17-18*

““Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Fatherbut my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, . And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”shall not prevail against it.”

Faith as a GiftFaith as a Gift

Ephesians 2:1-10Ephesians 2:1-10 ***Eph 2:8******Eph 2:8*** ““For by grace you haveFor by grace you have

been saved through faith,been saved through faith,

and this and this is not from you; is not from you;

it is the gift of God…”it is the gift of God…”

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/2

Faith as ResponseFaith as ResponseCCC 154-155CCC 154-155

““Interior helps of the Holy Spirit & Interior helps of the Holy Spirit & authentically human act”authentically human act”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

‘‘intellect & will cooperateintellect & will cooperate

with grace’with grace’ Hebrews 11:1-40Hebrews 11:1-40 Hebrews 12:1-13;*1-2*Hebrews 12:1-13;*1-2* http://www.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/11/

Faith & ResponseFaith & Response(actions speak louder than words)(actions speak louder than words)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H-yrfmqmGc

The Great Blondin!The Great Blondin! Pushes wheelbarrow on Pushes wheelbarrow on

tightrope across Niagara tightrope across Niagara Falls. Falls.

……Do you believe I can…?Do you believe I can…? Yes? Yes?

Then get in the Then get in the wheelbarrow!wheelbarrow!

Faith & Response Faith & Response (actions speak louder than words)(actions speak louder than words)

James 2:1-26James 2:1-26 Faith & WorksFaith & Works

2 sides of the same 2 sides of the same coin.coin.

“…“…Demonstrate your Demonstrate your faith to me without faith to me without works, and works, and I will I will demonstrate my faith demonstrate my faith to you from my to you from my works.” works.” –James 2:18–James 2:18

http://www.usccb.org/bible/james/2 http://www.usccb.org/bible/james/2

Faith & UnderstandingFaith & Understanding John 20:19-29John 20:19-29 ‘‘Doubting Thomas’Doubting Thomas’

***Jn 20:29*** ***Jn 20:29*** ““Jesus said to him, Jesus said to him,

““Have you come to believe Have you come to believe

because you have seen because you have seen

me? Blessed are those me? Blessed are those

who have not seen and who have not seen and

have believed.” have believed.”

Doubting Thomas clips.Doubting Thomas clips.

Animation for kids:Animation for kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=foJgyECyUFQ v=foJgyECyUFQ The BibleThe Bible: tv series: tv series https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-

cl=84838260&v=4hloP4zVwMc&x-yt-cl=84838260&v=4hloP4zVwMc&x-yt-ts=1422327029 ts=1422327029

Faith & UnderstandingFaith & Understandingwithin human reasonwithin human reason

CCC 156-159 CCC 156-159 http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s1c3a1.htm http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s1c3a1.htm

156 – God is trustworthy, so we believe.156 – God is trustworthy, so we believe. 157 – Faith is certain… divine origin.157 – Faith is certain… divine origin. 158 – Faith seeks understanding… to 158 – Faith seeks understanding… to

know Him better & understand how all know Him better & understand how all things connect to Christ.things connect to Christ.

159 – no discrepancies between faith & 159 – no discrepancies between faith & reason… truth cannot contradict itself…reason… truth cannot contradict itself…

St. Anselm of Canterbury St. Anselm of Canterbury late 11late 11thth early 12 early 12thth century century

For I do not seek to understand in order For I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to that I may believe, but I believe in order to

understand.”understand.”

-anecdote from my early 20s… -anecdote from my early 20s…

Jesus IS the Son of God & the CreedJesus IS the Son of God & the Creed……

http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/index.cfm teachings/what-we-believe/index.cfm

““Blind Faith” Blind Faith”

From Midnight Streams – To Be A Saint © From Midnight Streams – To Be A Saint © 2011, p.41 Michael J. Hoogasian2011, p.41 Michael J. Hoogasian

Recall John 20:29Recall John 20:29

Luke 16:19-31 Luke 16:19-31

““Parable of Rich Man & Lazarus”Parable of Rich Man & Lazarus”

Romans 10:13-17Romans 10:13-17 Faith by Hearing Faith by Hearing

1. Read passage…1. Read passage… 2. Then consider Jesus’ Parable of the Rich Man & 2. Then consider Jesus’ Parable of the Rich Man &

Lazarus.Lazarus.

Rich Man & LazarusRich Man & LazarusLuke 16:19-31Luke 16:19-31

1. Poor man goes to paradise; rich man goes to netherworld in torment.

2. Have pity, Father Abraham! - can’t there’s a great chasm.

3. Then send Lazarus to my bros to warn them!

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-22eoILkhSE

Rich Man & LazarusRich Man & LazarusLuke 16:19-31Luke 16:19-31

31“Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to 31“Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be Moses and the prophets, neither will they be

persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”

““Seek & you will find”Seek & you will find”

““God will answer all our questions in one God will answer all our questions in one way and one way only. Namely, by way and one way only. Namely, by showing us more of his Son.” -- Watchman showing us more of his Son.” -- Watchman Nee Nee

Consider: Mt 6:33; Consider: Mt 6:33; *Mt 7:7-11*; *Mt 7:7-11*; Jeremiah Jeremiah 29:12-13; Acts 17:26-2729:12-13; Acts 17:26-27

Vocation – Responding to God’s call.

Everybody is called by God to know love and serve him…

The difference is how each one does this.

Vocation – Responding to God’s call.

Free Will & Faith allow us to say ‘no’ OR through Prayer, reflection, discussion to: Discern our individual call (2 basic states)

• Single life – all but the laity typically make vows of chastity or celibacy, poverty, and obedience.

Religious Consecrated Priesthood (sorry, ladies… men only) Laity (no vows)

• Married life• See site for list of vocations:

http://www.religiousministries.com/editorial/index.asp?section=vocations

Discussion ?sDiscussion ?s 1. How is Faith a Gift?1. How is Faith a Gift? 2. How is Faith an act of Human Will?2. How is Faith an act of Human Will? 3. How is Faith more than a profession of 3. How is Faith more than a profession of

belief?belief? 4. How does one’s behavior provide 4. How does one’s behavior provide

evidence of one’s inner faith?evidence of one’s inner faith? 5. How does the Church express its Faith?5. How does the Church express its Faith? 6. How does personal belief influence life 6. How does personal belief influence life

decisions… both big and small?decisions… both big and small?

Other Faith ?sOther Faith ?s

Faith is one of those mysteries that no one Faith is one of those mysteries that no one knows everything about…knows everything about…

There should be ?s…There should be ?s…

Ask a faith related question and reflect on it… 1-Ask a faith related question and reflect on it… 1-2 paragraphs. 2 paragraphs.

We will discuss/investigate what we can in class!We will discuss/investigate what we can in class!