Faith and Trust

Today’s Gospel Text: And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 6 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - he then said to the paralytic - "Rise, take up your bed and go home." 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. Matt 9:1-8

Reflection: The world and the Church too has a lot to thank for men and women of faith. These are the people who act as saviours of the world. 

Not because they are saviors themselves, but they act as Saviours in so far as they through their unshakable and undaunted faith persevere in the world and in the church often marred by godlessness and even persecutions.  Thus they through their faith constantly invite God’s mercy on the wicked, who many a time dominate the world around them. 

The Gospel text proves such a notion of faith, when the men get a paralytic to Jesus and seeing their faith Jesus heals the paralytic, even a world paralyzed by the evil of men.   

Such is the power of faith of a Christian in the living God; that God either withholds his hand of destruction (Gen. 18: 22-33) or sustains a sinful world.

A Christian grows in faith through a dedicated life of prayer and reflection on God’s word, allowing him to minster to their hearts through this means, so that one is convinced through this daily encounter that God is real.

The Catholic Church in baptizing its infants, through the faith of the parents and the minister, along with the belief in the efficacy of the Sacrament speaks a powerful message to us on the power of faith.  Unfortunately, what we have on paper as Catholics, based on sound doctrine, is rarely a reality in daily living.

Prayer: “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides for ever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from this time forth and for evermore.” Ps 125:1-2

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