Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Our fierce Virgin Mother
whacks a demon with a stick.

 Lectionary: 340

Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested.

Several other translations render that second verse, "For by it the elders obtained a good report." (KJV) and "...by faith our ancestors received approval." (NRSV) 

Like the Christians who welcomed Saint Paul's message, the ancients were "well attested" and saved by faith in the yet-to-come Jesus Christ. Although they could not imagine the Messiah as an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, the Son of God, or the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, Abraham and his descendants had the Word, the revelation from God, and their fidelity delivered them from much harm. 

Saint Peter, in his first letter, also cites the salvation of those who preceded the Christ: 

For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead that, though condemned in the flesh in human estimation, they might live in the spirit in the estimation of God. (1 Peter 4:6)

Medieval scholars would call the Lord's descent into hell, "The Harrowing of Hell," and artists created marvelous images of that wonderful trip. A harrow is "an implement consisting of a heavy frame set with teeth or tines which is dragged over plowed land to break up clods, remove weeds, and cover seed." Without this harrowing trek, the Savior's work would not be consummated. 

To encourage persecuted Christians of the first century, the Letter to the Hebrews recalls the descendants of Abraham who observed and kept the faith throughout many prior generations. 

And to encourage us. So long as there are people, some will resist the Word of God and resent those who welcome it. Whether the trials are necessary or not is a moot question; they happen and we endure them. 

We keep the faith whether convenient or inconvenient. And we have the Lord's assurance that he will keep after us -- whether we like it or not -- for we are his people and he is our God. We can deny our faith but the Lord cannot deny us:

This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself. (2 Tim 2:11)

Indeed, like the Virgin in that image above, he will drive Satan away from us and then let us choose the way to freedom.