The Power and Source of Faith

In today's first reading, Acts 14: 5-18, Paul and Barnabas flee to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe, as they are about to be stoned in Iconium for witnessing to Jesus' resurrection from the dead.  In Lacaonia they come upon a man crippled from birth. Looking intently upon him, they see the depth of his faith. So  they say to him:  "'Stand up straight on  your feet.' He jumped up and began to walk about."  Those who witnessed this miracle say about Paul and Barnabas: "The gods have come down to us in human form."  Paul and Barnabas have their hands full in their efforts to convince them that they are not gods but human beings just like them. In the responsorial psalm we pray:  "Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy, because of your truth."

The questions this passage puts before us are many.   1) When others look at us, do they recognize the depth of our faith or do they see its shallowness? When I am "crippled" by whatever--for instance, I could be crippled psychologically or spiritually by the restrictions put upon us by this corona virus-- do others see the shallowness of my faith, that is, that I have begun to doubt the good intentions of those imposing the restrictions?  And that I have begun to doubt that God cares? Or that I have begun to doubt that I have the ability to make a positive difference in my own life and the life of others in the way I handle the challenges before me?    2) Or do others see the depth of my faith,  as Barnabas and Paul  saw the faith of the crippled man?  Do I stand straight and tall in the face of the challenges of remaining positive and proactive? Do I trust that I will make it through this trying time and come out stronger? Do I believe that good will come out of this difficult time and that I have the power to make good things happen right now and right here?  3) When others want to credit me for something I did by the grace of God, do I take the credit or give the "glory" to God?  4) Do I recognize when "the glory" is misplaced and put on me when it belongs to Another/another?

The Power of Faith

In today's first reading, Jeremiah 11: 18-20, the prophet tells us that he knew about the plot against him "because the Lord had informed" him. And  yet, he says, "I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: 'Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more.'" 

I was reminded of the efforts being made, especially by leaders in our country today, to plot out the names and good works of persons who have gone before them. What prompts us to want to erase another's good name or good works? If we personally are doing so, we need to take notice and examine our motivations.  That being said, we know, from the Scriptures, that the scribes and Pharisees and the leaders of the people in Israel attempted to do just that concerning Jesus,  but Jesus' works and message continues to touch people deeply to this very day!  Jesus continues to transform us into the persons God desires us to be. No one attempting to destroy His message or presence will be able to do so. Good will always triumph over evil. It did in Jesus' day and it will happen in the world of today, as well!

I believe this! My belief strengthens me to strive to do good and to strive on a daily basis to bring my will into harmony with God's will! What is your belief and how does it impact your life?

The Firmness and the Power of Faith in God

In today's first reading, Isaiah 7:1-9, Ahaz, king of Judah is terrified of Assyria, a threat to all of the Middle East in his time. The Lord God aware of the King's terror, instructs Isaiah to go out and meet Ahaz and say to him:  "Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; let not your courage fail before these two stumps of smoldering brands the blazing anger of Rezin and the Arameans, and of the son of Remaliah, because of ...the plots against you, saying, 'Let us go up and tear Judah asunder, make it our own by force...."  However, rather than relying on the invisible God whose presence cannot be seen with the naked eye, King Ahaz relies on the power of the Assyrian army and joins them.  The Lord God says to King Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah:  "Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm!"  Faithless, "the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled [before the threat before them], as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind."

What causes you to tremble as you listen to the news each night, as you see violence erupting in our streets and throughout the world, as you watch the stock markets rise and fall, as you listen to our politicians? What is threatening to you? How firm are you?   In what do you have faith? External forces: the military? a person who promises to "save" you, to empower you? a position that promises you security? some earthly, material-bound, consumer-purchased entity?  Any of these can give you a sense of security and are not bad in and of themselves.  It is our total reliance upon them as though they truly have the power to save us.  When we give any of these sources God-like powers and "worship" them in place of the Eternal One, we are in trouble, as was King Ahaz.

May you, through prayer and worship,through love and justice, through forgiveness and repentance, through a life of integrity and honesty, through self-sacrifice for the common good,  anchor your faith in the invisible God: the God of Isaac and Rebecca; Jacob, Leah and Rachel; Abraham and Sarah, Mary and Joseph; the God revealed to us by Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High God. "Unless your faith is firm," God says to us through the prophet Isaiah, "you shall not be firm! (Is 7:9).