Faith and reason has always been and will always remain a tension in our lives, specially in this world of scientific exploration and technological advance. There is grace in the tension of faith and reason: when we don’t use reason, we water down faith—it becomes blind, uninformed, naive. But when all we use is reason, we also compromise our faith and we become individuals with nothing to hold on to. There is salvation in the tension: “Nothing is more practical than finding God.” as Fr. Arrupe would say.
Today we listen to this beautiful song, and we reflect on our faith.
1. How many times have we asked God to prove Himself to us? Recall the last time you did this (what were the circumstances, etc). What leads you to this reaction?
2. What is the state of my faith? Write a State Of Faith Address in your journal.
Shifting Sands
Caedmon’s Call
Sometimes I believe all the lies
So I can do the things I should despise
And every day I am swayed
By whatever is on my mind
I hear it all depends on my faith
So I’m feeling precarious
The only problem I have with these mysteries
Is they’re so mysterious
And like a consumer I’ve been thinking
If I could just get a bit more
More than my 15 minutes of faith,
Then I’d be secure
My faith is like shifting sand
Changed by every wave
My faith is like shifting sand
So I stand on grace
I’ve begged you for some proof
For my Thomas eyes to see [1]
A slithering staff [2], a leprous hand [3]
And lions resting lazily [4]
A glimpse of your back-side glory [5]
And this soaked altar going ablaze [6]
But you know I’ve seen so much
I explained it away
Waters rose as my doubts reigned
My sand-castle faith, it slipped away
Found myself standing on your grace
It’d been there all the time
[1] Jn 20:24-28
[2] Ex 7:8 (Aaron’s staff turns into a snake)
[3] 2 Kings 5 (Elijah and Naaman)
[4] Daniel 6 (Daniel in the lion’s den)
[5] Exodus 33:18 (Moses: “Now show me your glory.”)
[6] 1 Kings 18 (Elijah vs the prophets of Baal)
prayersofapilgrim.com 