This is the meaning of our first two meetings. Therefore faith, our "belief", is a solid foundation on the Word of God and also a vital leap towards eternal communion with God himself already in this life, because it does not block, but sets us on the path. It is that strength - in Latin "virtus", i.e. virtue - with which we live both the solidity of the rock and the confident impulse, but it is also that complex of realities (real things) to which we entrust the true ultimate meaning of our entire life, in time and beyond time, because it announces that death is not the last word, which instead is of life. Faith as a "virtue", and therefore, faith as a reality in which we "believe", truths that we make our own, concrete contents which are: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Christ incarnate, dead and risen, Mary forgiven in advance of every sin, therefore Immaculate, the human Church insofar as it depends on us men, and at the same time divine because it is the Mystical Body of Christ living in history and on its way towards eternity, etc. ... Inside each of these "truths of faith" there is all the richness of the contents of the "Creed", which we will gradually face together...

The virtue of faith: strength and momentum

The faith "with which" we believe is the virtue of faith, the strength that makes us confident and at the same time pushes us to move forward in life. It indicates a relationship with the reality of God in his revealed Word, to be listened to with docility. This is basically the biblical "obeying", the "shemàh" (listening) of the First Testament and the "upakoèin" of the New: listening with respect which becomes a practice that carries out.
I note here that, from the point of view of the history of languages, even in ancient Indo-European roots the word "sacred" seems to have two original meanings, that of "adhere" and that of "follow". A confirmation of the two points – foundation and momentum – that we have seen so far. Faith as a virtue is adhering to the reality of God announced in his Word which has been pronounced in history and must be listened to and accepted with respect and then followed on the path it indicates.
Biblical faith, in this sense, is the strength (virtus in Latin) with which our fathers, from Abraham to John the Baptist, believed and trusted the Covenant, and then the strength with which the Apostles believed and trusted they are trusted and totally entrusted to the following of the Master Jesus of Nazareth.
Faith, therefore, as a virtue with which we believe, is a relationship of listening and of the beginning and impetus of "following". Being disciples in the New Testament, indicated with the term "akolouthèis", literally means putting one's feet in the footsteps of the Master who speaks and walks.
Here it is: faith as a life force which is first "listening" and then faithful "imitation" of the "Other" who reveals himself, gives himself and calls us to follow him, and therefore always puts us on the path. It is faith, the first of the three virtues which are called "theological" because in the strict sense they do not have their source in us, but in God himself, to the point that whoever exercises them is as if transformed into God himself, obviously by grace, and transported into a reality that surpasses all expectations: theological life, faith, hope and charity, makes us participants in the very life of God...

The faith that sets you on a journey, with joy

Above I mentioned Abraham and John the Baptist, but to understand what it means to believe, it is worth going and first of all seeing the true beginning of the faith definitively revealed for our salvation.
Here it is: the Angel's announcement to Mary in the Gospel of Luke.
What was that announcement, vitally? A total upheaval of the existence of that girl from Nazareth. She was at home, Luke's text says, but as soon as he had the announcement, and its completely surprising meaning clarified, he asked for clarification – “How is this possible, since I don't 'know' a man?” – And once she has received it, she welcomes it – “I am the servant of the Lord” – and she makes it the fundamental reason for her life. It is the very solid basis of her entire existence: the “basàh” of our first conversation… But then? Here she is in motion, immediately entrusting herself to the task announced to her with the "amàn", the momentum that she carries out and leads to the journey: she does not stop to contemplate, she does not even close herself in solitary prayer, she does not remain ecstatic and distant from the world that surrounds her … She immediately sets off to be a midwife for her relative, Elizabeth, who is in her sixth month, and in fact it is then said that she remains there for three months, until the birth of the Baptist.
Here it is: opening your life to God always means no longer having a fixed home, predetermined only by your needs, but being willing to inhabit the whole world, so your life becomes an impulse towards new spaces, towards everyone to reach and love. Saint Francis de Sales expressed this truth with a significant phrase: "When God enters a heart, all the furniture flies out the window." Therefore Mary leaves the house – “hastily” says the Gospel – and she goes to serve Elizabeth. Did she say something to Giuseppe? Maybe! He will notice the "change" later, upon his return, with the drama that Luca recounts...But she left immediately with the sole strength of the "project" that was announced to her by the Angel, on which she bases her journey, now , and the journey of his entire life to come.
Life of faith as acceptance of God's call and journey towards others to love, to serve, to whom also announce the wonders of God's plan which also concerns them. Everything and immediately in the Gospel of Luke: Mary will do this with Elizabeth who upon her arrival as helper (perhaps even midwife) will greet her with "Blessed among all women", and together they will praise the Lord: "My soul magnifies the Gentleman".
Leaving home as a peaceful and secure possession, and traveling freely into the world with the announcement of the joy that is to come. This is the biblical faith, from Abraham to Mary to the Saints until today: a journey. After all, the scenes of the life of Jesus, and also of Mary, are always those of streets, houses in Palestine, wells in Samaria, boats on Lake Tiberias, conversations with the sick on the street, and only sometimes the Temple, or the Synagogue of the town... Not fixed itineraries, but joyful freedom to respond to the needs of the men who meet on the way, the Apostles themselves, the sick, the hungry, the strangers, the lost women, the children, the little ones, and yes, then even the powerful and the bullies, the traitors without repentance and the traitors who later repented and became witnesses forever, like Peter and Paul, and the others, until today... What beauty, this faith, which is ours: on the journey with Mary, and with the Saints! Until next time.

Gianni Gennari