<p>As 2023 comes to a close todays reflection reminds us that authentic faith requires riskthe risk of change or forgiveness or of hearts open to those we see as other than ourselves. And while there is no faith without risk neither is there love without hearts vulnerable enough to be pierced by a concern for those around us.</p><p><strong>December 31 2023: Feast of the Holy Family</strong></p><p>Genesis 15:1-6-21:1-3 (Sirach 3:2-6 12-14)</p><p>Psalm 128:1-5</p><p>Hebrews 11:8 11-12 17-19 (Colossians 3:12-21)</p><p>Luke 2:22-40</p><div><div class=titan__email-divider>&nbsp;</div></div><h1><strong>A Faith That Pierces Our Hearts</strong></h1><p>A reflection by John Falcone</p><p>This Sunday the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. As LGBTQIA+ Catholics with all kinds of families (both families of blood and families of choice) we know something about the challenges of reaching out across difference (to take a chance to make a connection) and of stepping out on an uncertain path. Meanwhile the secular calendar marks the last day of 2023 and the news cycle continues to report war death and misery in so many placesincluding Jesus historical home.</p><p>The Lectionary offers several choices for this Sundays readings. For this reflection Id like to focus on Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3 (God promises Abraham and Sarah a son); Hebrews 11:8 11-12 17-19 (Abraham followed Gods guidance by faith); and Luke 2:22-40 (Jesus is brought to Jerusalem where Mary and Joseph dedicate him at the Temple).</p><p>In Genesis 15 God appears to Abraham and says Fear not! I am your shield; I will make your reward very great!.&nbsp;</p><p>But Abraham has heard this story before. In Genesis 12 God proclaims to Abraham Go from your country your people and your fathers household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. Then in Genesis 13 God says I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth. Even Melchizedek a pagan priest said in Genesis 14 Praise be to God Most High who delivered your enemies into your hand!. Still Abraham has no people no evidence that he has actually been blessed no child to call his own.</p><p>So perhaps Abraham can be forgiven for talking back to this God of so many promises: My God what good will your gifts be if I keep on being childless? You have given me no offspring; one of my servants will be my heir.</p><p>Then God makes one more promise not much different than the previous ones except this time God takes Abraham by the hand and walks him outside. God says Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Just so shall your descendants be.</p><p>And Abraham put his faith (<em>heemin</em>) in the Most High. And God credited it to him as righteousness.</p><p>This is the first time that the Hebrew root word&nbsp;<em>aman</em>&nbsp;(support confirm have faith) appears in the Bible; but it will not be the last. In fact the Hebrew words&nbsp;<em>emunath</em>&nbsp;(truth) and&nbsp;<em>Amen</em>&nbsp;(truly! I believe!) which are from the same root show up over and over in Scripture. And faith plays a central role in our spiritual lives as followers of Christ.&nbsp;</p><p>How did Abraham come to have faith? And why would God credit such a thing to him as righteousness?</p><p>Today we face war death and misery (sometimes paid for by our own taxes sometimes bought with our own narco-dollars sometimes bought with the petro-profits of our enemies). We face anxiety and polarization in our families. We face big lies and the danger of fascism in our country. Like Abraham we have heard the promise of a peaceable kindom many times; and we have many reasons to doubt that things will turn out alright.&nbsp;</p><p>Can we allow God to take us by the hand even if we dont know where the path will lead or how we might get there? Can we offer our hand to a neighbor or stranger? To a family member or friend who has staked out a position on the other side of an intense disagreement? Can we gaze upon the majesty of creation or of our loved ones and say Amen! to living in a way that honors their beauty? Can we say Amen! to a new way of life where we consume less; where we burn less; where economic growth gives way to economic sustainability?&nbsp;</p><p>I dont know what is possible. I dont know what a peaceable kindom will look like. I dont even know how I will make it work when I try to reach out across bitter differences. But one thing seems clearas Mary and Joseph discoveredif one seeks to walk with Jesus theres no escaping a love that will bring the fall and the rise of many and a sword will pierce your own heart (Lk 2:34-35).&nbsp;</p><p>Perhaps thats what it takes to be righteous thats what faith looks like right now: to step beyond fear; to risk our rise and our fall; and to offer a handeven if that risks the piercing of our hearts.</p><p></p><div><div class=titan__email-divider>&nbsp;<img src='https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/falcone_0.png'></div></div><div class=mobile-full><div class=mobile-full><em><strong>John P. Falcone</strong> is a practical theologian religious educator and a practitioner of Theatre of the Oppressed (PhD Boston College). He has been a Dignity member for more than 20 years with close links to Dignity NY where he met his husband Matias Wibowo in 2005. He is currently Theologian-in-Residence at St. Matthews Bethnal Green (Church of England) in Londons East End.</em></div><div class=mobile-full><em></em></div><div class=mobile-full><em></em></div></div><p style=text-align:center><a class=btn btn-primary href=https://dignityusa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/dignityusa/subscribe.jsp?subscription=8>Subscribe to Breath of the Spirit</a></p>