Beloved Parishioners,

As we come to the end of this month my reflection in this Pastor’s Corner is centered on Faith. My prayer is that God increases our faith in him that we do not doubt his power in our lives.

“Faith is being sure about what we hope for, and certain about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

That’s not just a verse to memorize — it’s the soundtrack of Abraham’s life, and it’s meant to be the heartbeat of ours too. Abraham left the comfort of what he knew simply because God spoke a promise to him. No road map, no photographs of the “Promised Land,” just a word from God and a heart willing to trust. He walked as a stranger in foreign places, keeping his eyes on a city “with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). Faith, then, is not a fuzzy feeling or naïve optimism. It is a stubborn, daily decision to lean on God’s promise even when the evidence in front of you shouts the opposite.

The Scripture gives us this steadying courage. The psalmist assures us that “the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love” (Ps. 33:18). Wisdom tells us that God protects those who cling to his word (Wis. 18:6–9). And Luke’s tender line — “Do not be afraid, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32) — turns our trembling into trust. But let’s be clear: Abraham’s greatness was not in feeling safe, but in acting as if God’s word was already true.

Faith that sees the unseen will cost us something. It means refusing false securities — choosing to be a pilgrim rather than a settler. Abraham’s test came in the unthinkable request to offer Isaac, showing that his trust was in God Himself, not merely in the gift God had given. Our tests might look quieter but cut just as deep: choosing generosity over self-preservation, forgiving when it’s easier to stay resentful, saying “yes” to a difficult service when hiding would be simpler, opening the door to hospitality when you’d rather keep your space to yourself.

So how do we grow this kind of faith? Start with remembering. Write down three ways God has been faithful to you recently and keep them where you’ll see them — on your fridge, your dashboard, or in your prayer journal. Root yourself in Scripture and the sacraments — the Eucharist is a taste of that promised city we’re headed toward. Obey the small nudges toward kindness; they train your heart for bigger leaps of trust. Practice letting go — choose one thing you’re clinging to and give it away, just to prove to yourself that God, not that thing, holds your life. And walk with others on the journey — even Abraham had companions; faith is personal, but it’s not solitary.

When doubt and fear creep in — and they will — remember this is not failure, this is the landscape of faith. Speak God’s word back to your own heart: “Do not be afraid, little flock.” Ask yourself, what am I trusting in most right now? Where has God already shown me that He is faithful? What small act of obedience today will make my trust visible?

May this be a week where you see the unseen — not by closing your eyes to reality, but by looking at reality through the eyes of God’s promise. Amen.

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