We all know the benefits of exercise. We look at our children, how bright and beautiful they are, how full of potential. They are starting a new school year, and school is almost entirely about exercising them in various ways. They do language exercises in reading and writing. They do math exercises.  They do science and art exercises. They do physical education.

One thing the public schools cannot do is help them exercise their faith. That has to be done, if it is to be done at all, at home and in church.

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Today’s Gospel makes us feel uncomfortable, and we should be. When he talks about his baptism, he is talking about his death, which will establish the victory of God over sin and death. He uses stark, frightening language to make his point. He starts with fire, then adds the prospect of division of households and families, the tearing of our closest relationships.

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“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

People regularly want to talk with me about faith, be it their own faith or faith in general. Sometimes they aren’t quite sure even what it is. It seems a vague and elusive concept that they perceive others to have, but they cannot quite find. Let’s see if we can bring it into sharper focus by looking at two major aspects of faith. This isn’t about some abstract concept. It ties to the very essence of our nature, of your nature, of what is means to be human, to have been created by God in his image.

First, faith involves trust.

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