Kaukauna Catholic Parishes

Most likely sometime this week we will drive or ride in a car. Even if we don’t this week, at some time or another, either in the past or the future we probably have, or will, ride in a car to go somewhere. If you are like me, you don’t really think about that as a big deal. Most of the time, we just get in the car and go but, when you stop for a moment to think about it, driving in a car is a tremendous act of faith. As drivers, we have faith that the cars we encounter have caring, safe drivers, who are paying attention and following the rules of the road. Now, we have never met most of the drivers we have met on the road and know nothing about them personally and, yet, virtually every day we put our health, our safety and, literally, our lives in their hands. That takes faith! Lots of it!  It takes even more faith to be a passenger, because a passenger has no control whatsoever. BIG TIME FAITH!!

We are comfortable in driving because of our experience and training – we have prepared and practiced. Before we drive, we are tested. Despite all that, accidents still  happen because, to be a good driver, you can’t just be a good driver sometimes. You have to always be ready, prepared for any situation and have faith. That’s what    our readings are about this week. In the second reading, St. Paul teaches us: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”

Paul looks at the life of Abraham and reminds us that he didn’t just have faith once in a while. Abraham had faith all the time, not just when it was convenient or when things were going well. He even had faith when he didn’t know where he was going and when he didn’t understand God’s plan. Abraham knew that, if he had faith, God would be there for him.

In order for us to have that kind of faith, we need to be prepared. We can’t turn our faith off and on like a light switch. We can’t say, “I’ll start making better choices        tomorrow.” We can’t say, “I’ll have faith when God does something good for me.” That’s not how faith works.

That’s what Jesus teaches his disciples through the parable of the unprepared servant who is not ready when his master returns. The servant thought he had more time, and he would get ready for his master’s return later. He is like a driver who crashes while driving a high-powered sports car without any training. He was not ready and suffered as a result.

If we have faith, if we practice that faith every day, not just once in a while, then we can be like Abraham and be comfortable that God will drive us where we need to go.

Deacon Randy