Faith Formation and Christian Education (Sunday, November 2, 2025)

Faith Formation and Christian Education

As a people we have faced a horrific force of nature which has caused many of us to feel overwhelmed, to fret and to be traumatized. Hurricane Melissa caused many of us to be anxious and afraid about its impact on our lives and property. Its delayed, rather than quick movement increased the anxiety of some of us. Also, its impact with strong, howling winds and heavy rainfall exposed our state of helplessness in an environment of uncertainty.

The disciples found themselves in a similar state while in a boat with Jesus. As they were sailing in calm waters, suddenly there was a storm with raging winds and water which was filling the boat. They were afraid and called out to Jesus, who was asleep. Jesus’ response was to calm the raging winds and waves. As he said to the disciples, “Where is your faith?” This is not faith as believing in a statement to be true or mental assent to a proposition. Rather, Jesus’ assertion about faith demands the assent and affirmation of our hearts. “We trust in God as the one upon whom we can rely, as our support, foundation and ground, as our safe place.” (The heart of Christianity, Marcus J. Borg). This requires trusting with all our hearts in the buoyancy of God’s Love and Loving Care, and ask for us to embrace and hold fast to God and let go of fear and anxiety.

As the psalmist asserts, “Be still then and know that I am God” Ps. 46:11. In all the adversities of life, despair and hopelessness cannot be an option for us as Christian disciples, as God has demonstrated to us His sustaining and abiding presence through all the changing seasons of life. With this assurance, we rely, not only on our own efforts, we also hold to the presence of God that gives us spiritual resilience and emotional strength to cope and be resolute in our faith. Let us hold fast to the commitment of Jesus who said, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20b). In this we have the guarantee that we are held in the Lord’s hands, and the spirit of God abides and dwells with us, always.

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