Daily Mass Gospel Reflection - Real, Personal Faith

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 02.13.23 | Bishop Robert Barron

[MurphsLaw]

Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 8:11–13

Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign from heaven.
They are testing him because they have no faith or trust in him.

Faith is an attitude of trust in the presence of God.
Faith is openness to what God will reveal, do, and invite.
It should be obvious that in dealing with the infinite,
all-powerful person who is God, we are never in control.

This is why we say that faith goes beyond reason.
If we can figure it out, calculate precisely, predict with complete accuracy,
we’re in charge—and by definition, we are not dealing with a person.
Would you use any of those descriptors in talking about your relationship with your husband, wife, or best friend?
Instead, you enter into an ever-increasing rapport of trust with such people.

One of the most fundamental statements of faith is this:
your life is not about you. You’re not in control.
This is not your project. Rather, you are part of God’s great design.
To believe this in your bones and to act accordingly is to have faith.

[MurphsLaw]

+++The Pharisees came forward
and began to argue with Jesus,
seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
“Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you,
no sign will be given to this generation.”
Then he left them, got into the boat again,
and went off to the other shore.+++