30 January 2023
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight….Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect.
From Hebrews11: 32-40, NRSV
In today’s reading, the author lists some of the great heroes of the Old Testament and recalls how their willingness to follow God led them to remarkable acts of faith. Their great deeds would have been praised through the generations and their names familiar to the Hebrews. However, as the author points out, even their great acts of faith did not result in reaching the fullness of God’s promise. As he has stated throughout this letter, entrance into the full inheritance of faith is only possible because of Jesus. The full glory of heaven was as open to the Hebrews as it was to their great heroes.
- How would the Hebrews have felt to know that their great heroes shared the same promise as themselves?
- Who does this promise relate to our own day ?
Select one of the names mentioned in the reading and research their life. What does their faith have to say to you?
