The reading from Romans has me again, wondering about faith.  How have I come to hold my personal “faith”/ “belief” that there is a God.

I have an opportunity to spend time in the anatomy lab with the medical students.  Together we marvel at the intricacies of the human body and always the notion of God, as Creator emerges.  The question often asked is, “How can anyone not believe/have faith that there is a God?”  Spending time with the students in this way renews my faith and makes me excited to share what I have come to know.  In today’s Psalm, I am thoughtful of how I have been blessed with faith and my desire to share the good news.

When I reflected on the reading from Luke, I thought, “This has always been an issue for me.”  Luke shares the story of Jesus being questioned by the Pharisee about not performing the “washing ritual” before he eats.  Jesus replies, “You cleanse the outside cup and dish, but within you are filled with rapaciousness.”  I am always taken back with the appearance of goodness when, in reality, actions were taken or words spoken for self-serving purposes.

God calls me to live my life without pretext, to carry the love for others in my heart and to a live that love both internally and externally, with true faith in God.