During the middle ages, princes throughout Europe vied with one another for the most prestigious collection of religious relics at their local cathedral: splinters off the original cross, a bit of the Virgin Mary’s milk, fingers of the saints, locks of hair from the apostles, or a vial of blood taken from the cross. Somehow these relics were supposed to “prove” the realness and relevance of faith.
Modern-day relics have taken a notable contemporary twist. A tortilla is flipped, and the scorch mark on it is the face of Jesus. Pretzels, potato chips, spaghetti and snack foods are suddenly given sacred stature because someone can make out some holy portrait in the fry marks, burned bits, or organic wrinkles.
There is the “grilled cheese sandwich Jesus,” the “Jesus Flapjack,” the “Jesus on Toast” (a.k.a. “the Holy Toast”), and the twenty-first century version of the feeding of the five thousand, “Jesus on the Frozen Fish Filet” (the “Lord of the Fish Stick”).
Can we all agree that these are just plain silly? I really don’t think any of them prove much about the realness and relevance of faith. If they demonstrate anything, it is how easily we are swayed by what we think we see or want to see.
One of the early saints of the church once wrote in the book we know as Hebrews, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Here is suggested that the very nature of faith is such that it cannot be made real by any image that randomly shows up on toast or fish sticks. In reality, faith is something more rare and valuable than “lost books” or “relics.”
“The assurance of things hoped for” — faith possesses in the present what God has promised for the future. This has both an inward and an outward manifestation. Inwardly, people of faith have a confidence today, here and now — particularly when life seems to be falling apart for us — that the promises of God for peace, justice, mercy and salvation can be trusted. Faith as an outward reality prays boldly for those who mourn, serves tenderly those who weep and works tirelessly to ease the pain of those who are wounded.
The second half of the phrase, “Faith is … the conviction of things not seen,” describes what faith perceives. That is, faith helps us see what is not perceptible to the naked eye. Scientists in laboratories can answer pages of questions about how life comes to be. But “faith” is required to answer questions pertaining to the meaning and purpose of life.
So the next time you see a news story about the image of Jesus detected in the fur pattern of a cat, go ahead and smile. God loves us when we laugh! But, put your trust in a God who can be detected in the real-life events of people of faith.
The Rev. Frank Everett is pastor of Greenfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This weekly column is written by local clergy members.
