Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Here are the readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time,
September 16, 2012:

Isaiah 50: 5-9a

Psalm 114:1-6, 8-9

James 2: 14-18
Mark 8: 27-35

In his book "Catholic Prayer", Lawrence Cunningham makes the distinction between 'believing that' and 'believing in'. Essentially, he boils it down to this:
You can, for instance, assent to a fact or theory, "I believe that there are 50 states in the United States of America." Nice to know, but does it have much impact on your life?
But when you believe in someone or some thing- well, that has implications, doesn't it? From the trivial trust in the local weather forecaster that guides you to carry an umbrella when rain is predicted, to the life-giving, life-altering belief in God, in whom we live and move and have our being. Believing in entails giving our very hearts to the subject of our trust.

The readings this weekend speak of faith, of walking in the pathways of God, of good words turned to concrete action.

• In whom or what do you believe?
• How would you finish this sentence, "I believe in God, who...."
• How would you finish this followup sentence, "Because of this belief, I ....)

The topic for the Catechumenate this Sunday is Faith Professed.