In the last thirty years or so, Scripture scholars have rediscovered the narrative power of stories. God has more frequently chosen to reveal salvific truth to us though stories, factual or fictional, rather than through doctrinal discourse. Hence, the Old Testament is full of great stories. Similarly, Jesus spoke in parables, to make the great mystery of the Kingdom of God more accessible to us. Most stories centre on a hero or heroine. Little wonder, then, that the Letter to the Hebrews today speaks of the heroes of the Old Testament, just as elsewhere he speaks of the example of the great heroines. The more we know of these Old Testament heroes and heroines, the more easily we will understand the writer's intention.

While today's reading focuses on the faith of the heroes who are mentioned, the stories of other saints may inspire us with a greater understanding of our Christian hope, or a greater awareness of the demands of love in charitable work. In all these stories, God is always there, sometimes more obviously in the foreground, but frequently more in the background.