NOTES for Heb 11:13-14
What is the faith of the Patriarchs, and what is our faith in comparison with it? But perhaps we simply do not quite understand what faith is. It appears to us that faith, especially the faith of the patriarchs, is something unshakable, a certain rest for their great souls that allows them to do their great deeds. But let us look more closely at what the Apostle tells us today: 'they said of themselves that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth; for those who say such things show that they seek a homeland.' In these words, on the contrary, there is a certain restlessness; there is seeking. In the logic of our language this is something opposite to faith. Seeking is associated more with doubt than with faith. We even have expressions such as 'established in faith' and 'firm faith.' And although in the first phrase the root is 'firmness,' not 'faith,' this consonance shapes us apart from our awareness. In reality, however, the faith of our fathers was precisely not to let their thought rest on anything earthly, and in general not to let it rest on anything. For 'if they had had in mind that homeland from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.' If we have something formed in our thoughts, not necessarily something strictly defined, concrete, and material, even if it is only an idea, it draws our actions toward itself, and we find time to realize it. Faith is different. Faith is always to strive; it is dynamic, an impulse, and at times even wandering, but wandering that is not meaningless, because it hopes in Him. This very hope must be our stronghold. As soon as we stop hoping, we cut ourselves off from the vine and dry up. We block for ourselves the oxygen of grace. Therefore there must be doubts. But these must be doubts not about God, but about our idea of Him. This small clarification is always forgotten when people speak about doubts in faith. Only one thing must be unshakable: the One who created me loves me, because: 'You love all things that exist, and loathe nothing that You have made; for You would not have made anything if You had hated it' (Wis. 11:25). What is there to doubt here? The fact that I exist and therefore someone wanted me to be is evident. That He created responsibly and not like a childish game is also clear: since such a complex world stands, and everything in it is so beautiful, its Creator cannot be irresponsible. Therefore, He loves. That is all. That is the whole of faith. As for doubts about dogmas, about people, even those vested with rank, about church order... all this is that very wandering of which the Apostle speaks to us today when he speaks of the descendants of the patriarch Abraham and his wife Sarah. Let us not cling too much to the earthly, for 'they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one; therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.'