Faith is Supreme

Today’s Gospel Text:  And they came to Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimae'us, a blind beggar, the son of Timae'us, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." 50 And throwing off his mantle he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" And the blind man said to him, "Master, let me receive my sight." 52 And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:46-52

Reflection: Faith versus reason! Which is greater: faith or reason?

This a difficult argument for the many and to comprehend the wisdom of God in seeking to save us not on the basis of reason or absolute knowledge but on pure faith.

Yet those who value faith never discard reason and are fully able to explain the relevance and at the same time limitations of reason. It requires sound reasoning's to do so. 

They who value faith over reason can argue and as St. Paul puts it are “able to lead every thought into subjection to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5). Thus reason makes a new beginning through subjection to Christ, which is faith.  

The relationship between reason and faith is like the relationship between life and breath; though it seems that one can’t do without the other.  Though breath is on account of life, yet without the breath there is no life.

Which is greater? If the criteria for evaluating is preexistence then life is greater than breath, otherwise we could conclude that it is breath that is essential for life to exist.

But when breath ceases life still continues in a lifeless body for sometime and those who have faith know for sure that this life continues with God’s help for all eternity.

Similarly, faith always exists and will exist irrespective of reason. If one would not have faith in God then faith in all its pride is placed in oneself, which many a times is a faith in the reasoning's of mortals.

If not then we begin to put our faith in mere abstractions, ideas and values without allowing our reasons to that comprehensive knowledge.

Prayer: Lord, I believe in you, I believe in every word you have spoken to us, I believe that I still need to believe in you as one who is with me guiding my footsteps. 

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