Surround yourself with Faith

Today’s Gospel:  And when he returned to Caper'na-um after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:1-5

Reflection:  Their faith, the faith of the four was instrumental in healing the paralytic who was brought to Jesus on a stretcher through the roof.  This is amazing; we have had many cases of individuals accessing Jesus’ healing and deliverance through faith.

This then brings us to the question of faith and the many faith healers. They would say; only believe and don’t doubt but believe that you are healed and yet many in the congregation go back unhealed.  If anyone protests they had it because they are already judged; if you are not healed it is because of your lack of faith. What is worse is that they are quite detached from their words when they speak and would not go that extra mile in rehabilitating those who are not healed.

In other words; we have the faith but you don’t have the faith.  My contention is this; if you have the faith then I am sure it is not like the faith of the four who brought the paralytic to Jesus to be healed. While the paralytic only cooperated but it was their faith, the faith of the four, that Jesus could see and testify to and through which could bring about one of the most impressive and amazing healing.

Faith is absolutely necessary for healing, but it could be the faith of others too which can change an impossible situation into a blessing.  Likewise the lack of faith of the many can also influence the working of God as in Matthew: “And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.”  Matt 13:58

Prayer:  I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." Ps 91:2

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