Saturday 21 February 2009

Background

The author of the letter to the Hebrews was committed to showingthose early Christians who came from a Jewish faith tradition thatthere was strong continuity of the Jewish faith story in theemerging Christian Church. This passage is a reminder of some ofthe enduring features of 'faith' as seen in the lives of some ofthe faith 'giants' of the Jewish Scriptures - Cain and Abel, Enoch,Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Sarah and Jacob.

These Scriptures became for Christians the Old Testament: thebackground story that gives the context for Christian faithdeveloping around the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth in thedays of the Roman Empire.

The sketches of Abel, Enoch and Noah can be read as the 'warm-upact' for Abraham and Moses, whose stories are told at greaterlength. The author admits that time does not permit fuller mentionof Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel, the prophetsand countless others (verses 32-38).

The writer claims that none of these heroes of faith received theultimate promise revealed in Christ Jesus, yet together they embodythe 'cosmic' shared faith story of Christians, who look to Jesus,"the pioneer and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).

The opening verse of this passage points us from faith to hope, andto "things not seen". From a faith perspective, hope is active inthe present as well as always pointing us to the future. "Thingsnot seen" may be the things of tomorrow that are not visible to usat this moment. They may also be things too deep for the human mindand heart to grasp or comprehend in all our limitations. What isthere for all to see, however, is the impact that faithful livescan make in families and communities.

People of faith continue to draw strength and inspiration forliving through the practise of their beliefs, and continue to bearwitness to the experience of divine grace in their lives. The callto Christian discipleship is not a self-centred option. It is thecall to be changed through following Christ, and to become an agentof change in the world. As people of faith, Christians keep alivethe flame of hope for peace, justice and compassion in God'sworld.

To Ponder

Who are the faith heroes of your own lifestory?

How might future generations continue to beinspired by people of faith from very different contexts?

What links do you make between faith and hope,and "things not seen" in your own faith journey?