Faith and Love

In today's first reading,  James 1: 1-11, St. James reminds us that God gives "generously and ungrudgingly."   Therefore, James says to us, "if you lack wisdom, ...ask [and it] will be given [to  you]...[A]sk in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a [person] of two minds, unstable in all  his ways."

Am I a unstable person, a person "of two minds," one moment believing and the next moment doubting?  Or am I strongly rooted in Christ Jesus, my God and Savior? Knowing who Jesus is, I will stand firm in my faith!

In today's Gospel, Jesus is upset with the Pharisees who begin an argument with Him and want a sign from heaven to test him. "Why," Jesus asks, "does this generation seek a sign?"  Imagine the frustration Jesus is experiencing!  Why a sign? Perhaps we will understand this passage better by likening it to a family situation.  Imagine a family member--spouses and/or children--constantly demanding a sign of love. No matter what the other does or does not do, the demands keep coming! Such demands, such doubts in each other and in God can destroy faith and poison marriage and family relationships!  On the other hand, if I am working at deepening my love for God, others and self--if I am doing all that it takes to deepen love for others, God, and self-- then  I do not need a sign! And for sure, I do not need to test others by arguing with them about who they are, from whence they have come and whether or not their love and intentions are pure, as did the  Pharisees repeatedly challenge Jesus!

Righteousness and Eternal Life

In today's first reading, Romans 6: 19-23, St. Paul expands on yesterday's Scriptures. As "slaves of sin," Paul tells us, we "were free from righteousness. But what profit did you get...?For the end of those things [which are offensive to God and separate you from Love] is death.  But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit that you have leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life."

All of us are on a journey that leads to eternal life.  We will be given an option when we die, I believe,  as we are now given: choose life or choose death, eternal death that is!  Just as now we are asked whether or not we want to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, so, too, in death, I believe, we will be asked that same question.  On this side of the grave, all things work for the sanctification of those who believe. And even when I am in a period of unbelief, even when I have turned away from God, God waits for us to come back to Him. And when we do, He opens His arms to receive us into His heart.  He welcomes us in the same way as the Father of the prodigal son welcomed his wayward son, rejoicing, throwing a welcome-home party, giving us the best of what He has: sanctification and salvation!

Relying on Jesus' Power to Overcome Evil

In today’s Gospel, Mk 9: 14-29,  the disciples are perplexed that they were unable to cast out an evil spirit that had possessed a boy since his childhood, throwing him into convulsions, causing him to foam at the mouth and at times practically tossing him into water or into fire to kill him. The boy’s father is frantic that the disciples were of no help and says to Jesus: “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”  Jesus, exasperated by the statement “If you can,” shouts back: “What do you mean, ‘if I can’. Haven’t I been with you long enough, haven’t you seen the work I do, that you question whether I am capable to casting out Satan?”  The man is just as frustrated and says to Jesus, “Lord, I do believe; help my unbelief!” And Jesus takes over the situation and commands Satan to leave and never, never take possession of the boy again.

Many times, you and I need to be brought that low in realizing our powerlessness, our dependency upon the Lord, that there is nothing we can do to change a horrible situation, a situation out of our control. Until we recognize this, we are likely to keep trying things that do not work.  Stripped bare, we fall on our knees and beg God to help us. God never refuses those who believe that God is God and there is no other.   “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If  you ask Me anything I My name, I will do it” (Jn 14: 13-14).   

Who am I in this Gospel story: the man who is interceding for his son? The son who is out of control of his life? The disciples who are unable to make a difference in this situation? Whoever I am, what is God asking of me?