logo
episode-header-image
Aug 5
15 m

What Is Faith?

BISHOP ROBERT BARRON
About this episode

Friends, on this Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, our second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews offers us a great biblical description of faith. I stand with Paul Tillich, the Protestant theologian, who said that faith is the most misunderstood word in the religious vocabulary. Critics of religious say that faith is accepting things on the basis of no evidence; it’s believing any old nonsense; it’s naïveté; it’s superstition. But this has nothing to do with what the Bible means by faith.

Up next
Oct 7
The Gospel Is Jesus Christ
Friends, in our second reading this Sunday, Paul writes to Timothy, “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel.” The Gospel is not the ethical teachings of Jesus or the doctrinal teachings of Saint Paul; the Gospel is Jesus himself. And ... Show More
14m 55s
Sep 29
Trust in God’s Plan
Friends, this Sunday, I want to talk to you once again about faith. As I’ve said before, faith is the most misunderstood word in the religious vocabulary. And both the first reading and the Gospel today shed very interesting light on the nature of faith, which is not a kind of su ... Show More
14m 55s
Sep 24
Love for the Poor
Friends, Pope Benedict XVI memorably told us that the Church does three essential things: It worships God, it evangelizes, and it serves the poor. This week, the first reading from the prophet Amos and the Gospel parable of the rich man and Lazarus bring that third task vividly t ... Show More
14m 50s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2021
Why is Faith a Virtue? Do We Need Faith?
Have you heard the phrase, "never doubt in the darkness what you knew was true in the light?" Do you find yourself intellectually convinced that our faith makes sense but in times of difficulty, struggle to assent to those truths? 
10m 42s
Jan 2025
The Unseen Foundation
Hebrews is written to help us have what it takes to face the difficulties of life. And in chapter 11, we’re told one of the keys is to be people of faith. But what is faith? In our cultural moment, conservatives see faith as a moral virtue, while liberals see skepticism as a mark ... Show More
38m 50s
Jan 2025
Day 21: Believing God (2025)
Fr. Mike continues reflecting on the meaning of faith and how it works in our lives. We learn that faith is a grace from God, a supernatural virtue that is not contrary to human freedom or reason. Fr. Mike reminds us that to have faith is not just to believe in God, but to believ ... Show More
14m 6s
Nov 2024
Did Jesus Say Faith Is “Blind”?
In this episode of the Cold-Case Christianity Podcast, J. Warner examines the Biblical definition of “faith”. Did Jesus advocate “blind faith”? How did Jesus use evidence to demonstrate his Deity? How did Jesus deal with doubt? 
27m 59s
Jul 2024
Faith That Keeps You Safe
There tends to be this stereotype of the faith that uses Christianity as a safety net. We will shout with joy and praise the name of God, but do you truly find faith in Jesus Christ? When your faith is tested, will you still be obedient and trust the voice of God? In this episode ... Show More
1h 12m
Sep 2023
#194: What is Faith? (Peter Steps Out of the Boat)
Matthew 14:22-32; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:16-21. Without faith, it’s impossible to please God! These stories show us what is looks like to put our faith in Jesus. Even though we cannot see Him, we believe that He is real and He rewards those who seek Him! 
18m 9s
Apr 2022
Lost without faith
How I understand religion is faith in something or someone. Another thing I have been hearing is we all are lost without a religion. I grew up with a faith but that was handed to me by family and society I grew up in. It did not gel with me and now I am totally lost. I have no cl ... Show More
15m 32s
Jan 2025
How to Share Your Faith Without Compromise | Christian Conviction in a Culture of Tolerance
Discover how to stand firm in your Christian faith while engaging with others lovingly and authentically. This powerful conversation explores the balance between biblical truth and genuine kindness, addressing how to avoid watering down the gospel while building meaningful relati ... Show More
16m 11s