We live in a world of uncertainties.  There is so much that presents itself to us that leads us to doubt and uncertainty.  Our hearts long for a truth that we can place at the foundation of our lives and that will satisfy our yearning for a greater truth.  Many people have consigned themselves to a life of doubt and skepticism.  We have adopted an attitude of suspicion in our modern way of thinking.  However, our knowledge of God is one area in which we can find certainty and evidence which leads us to a truth about our human lives and the answers to the great questions about our human existence.

    Knowing our hunger for the truth and the need that we all have for something certain that we can place at the foundation of our lives, God has graciously willed to reveal himself to us and to reveal his plan for salvation and his gracious will for all human persons.  Over time God has patiently revealed his presence and truth to us as human persons and in the fullness of time he has given us the fullness of revelation in his Son, Jesus the Christ.  The truth about Jesus can be known with certainty from the gospels that have been given to us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the writings of the evangelists.  

    Today in our gospel reading we have the beginning of the Gospel according to Luke in which he affirms us of his purpose to provide us with certain evidence which can lead us to a full knowledge of Jesus the Christ and through him knowledge of God the Father.  Luke tells us, “I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.”  The gift that Luke gives us in writing his gospel account is a truth that can lead us to “certainty of the teachings you have received.”  What a gift that is to us in an uncertain world!  Luke does not provide us with conjecture, opinion, personal experience or speculation but rather with a well researched truth guided by the Holy Spirit.  Thus, we should not approach the reading of the gospel with our modern attitude of suspicion and doubt but rather with belief and a humble submission to the truth revealed in Jesus Christ.

    The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that:  “By natural reason man can know God with certainty, on the basis of his works. But there is another order of knowledge, which man cannot possibly arrive at by his own powers: the order of divine Revelation. Through an utterly free decision, God has revealed himself and given himself to man. This he does by revealing the mystery, his plan of loving goodness, formed from all eternity in Christ, for the benefit of all men. God has fully revealed this plan by sending us his beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.”  (CCC 50)  “It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will. His will was that men should have access to the Father, through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit, and thus become sharers in the divine nature.” (CCC 51)  “The divine plan of Revelation is realized simultaneously “by deeds and words which are intrinsically bound up with each other” and shed light on each another. It involves a specific divine pedagogy: God communicates himself to man gradually. He prepares him to welcome by stages the supernatural Revelation that is to culminate in the person and mission of the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ.” (CCC 53)

    Jesus affirms God’s plan of revelation through words and deeds when he concludes his reading of the scripture with the truth claim, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”  To hear the word of God proclaimed is to receive a truth that can lead us to certainty.  This word has been fulfilled in history through the life, words and deeds of Jesus the Christ which Luke records for us all to know.

    If you are looking for something certain, something true, something that you can build your life upon, look no farther than Jesus and his words and deeds recorded in sacred scripture.  Put away your doubts, your skepticism, your air of suspicion and respond to the word of the gospel with belief and the submission of faith.  Jesus fulfills God’s plan of revelation and gives us something that we can trust and truly build our lives upon.  For a solid foundation to build our life upon we need to find a place of strength.  The prophet Nehemiah reminds us today, “Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!” (Neh 8,10)  So come, let us rejoice and build our lives upon his Word, for today this Word is fulfilled in our hearing!