Martha’s Faith

Today’s Gospel Text:  And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world." John 11:19-27

Reflection: Are actions based on Faith sometimes like a leap in the dark? That is what it seems it is!

Here we have a story of Martha; a woman, who by nature, could be termed as an action oriented woman, who once complained about her sister as not being too helpful in her busy moment of serving the Lord.

A woman who cared much about others and in the bargain may have even failed to care for herself.

Here she is once again at it, while Mary sat at home, Martha was up on her feet rushing to meet Jesus, expressing her self, without inhibition:

"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." (vs. 21-22)

If the rest was not history, if the miracle would not have happened then it could be considered the most foolish statement ever.

Wait a minute; even before the miracle could take place!  

Martha's statement seems to be loaded with foolishness: Who could ever make a statement to anyone like this - a statement about raising the dead. Isn't the death the inevitable end of all living creatures. 

What sort of faith is this; a confidence in the ability of another?

That is what faith is all about!

But Christian faith is no blind leap or plunge, it is born out of an assurance that things will happen and such assurance come through the working of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who believe or allow God to work freely in their lives. 

It may appear foolish but is based on a strong assurance in the heart of those who allow God to imprint his faith onto our hearts. 

Every bride that takes a leap of faith in marriage is because she thinks that she is going to get married to the right man and will find love and security in him and yet it may not always end up to be true and successful.

But every individual, no matter what background, if they allow themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit and be obedient to that voice will definitely find success.

Prayer: Save us, we beseech thee, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech thee, give us success!  Blessed be he who enters in the name of the Lord! Ps 118:25-26

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Never too Late

Today’s Gospel Text: On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." John 6:22-29

Reflection: I strongly believe in catechizing our children well, in the ways of the Lord, when small and giving them the best by way of examples, practical faith and above all the doctrine of the church and of Christ Jesus.

If one gives them the faith when small, and if they are really well versed in the faith, then when they grow up and at any point were to move away from the faith on account of the various pressures that the contemporary world offers, they will always return to seek the Lord.

They will return to seek that Jesus whom they have known and encountered and of whose power and grace they have experienced a miracle in their daily life.

If the Egyptians could remember the flesh pots of Egypt when they were in the desert, how much more should these not remember the Lord who keeps offering his own flesh as food for them, irrespective whether they are in the desert of life or not.

They may feel abandoned and tossed by the confusion and hostility that the world and modern learning throws up at times but that will not deter them for long for he the Lord is with them.

Some times for a little while they may get deterred by these temptations that the world throws up constantly, vexing the human spirit, but in the end the Lord’s grace shall triumph.

In the gospel we have a similar situation, in which the people who have tasted Jesus and his love and power are now spurred on to seek him:

So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus. (vs.24)

Yet it is never too late to mend, we still can have that taste of Jesus which can hook us on to him and no matter what forces that seeks to draw us away from Jesus our weakness will always be for him, who strengthens us over, against every power of the evil one.

Prayer:  "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isa 55:6-7

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Saving Spirit

Today’s Gospel Text:  But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

33 "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matt 12:28-34

Reflection: The Spirit of God has a special place in our salvation.

We claim that our salvation is in Christ Jesus who is the way the truth and the life. (Jn. 14:6)

Whereas this passage of Scripture assures us that our salvation is in believing the mighty possibilities of the Holy Spirit and not to blaspheme against him nor distrust his working. 

A close look at Jesus’ statement gives us the impression that it was not so much Jesus but the Holy Spirit who actually casts the demons out.  In other words, Jesus casts the demons out by means of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the face for the action and work of the Holy Spirit. In other words he has been the perfect instrument of the Holy Spirit.

In his defense of the Holy Spirit he proves his awareness of this working of the Holy Spirit and his mighty possibilities.

In a way he reveals to all his followers about the great possibilities of the Holy Spirit; if only we don’t sin against him by our callous attitude or rejection of him, on account of our pride and self-belief. 

In other words to believe in Jesus as our savior means to believe in the Holy Spirit and his work and in no way can one separate this element from the faith.

It is not just a mere belief in the Trinity of persons, but a dynamic belief in the Trinity of person; acknowledging the role of each one in the economy of our salvation. 

This includes each one of us too who become instruments of Salvation by the working of the Holy Spirit and it includes the church triumphant who is reigning with Jesus while still working with us; the Holy Saints. 

It is ultimately the Holy Spirit who is a means of communication; a communication in which he makes God present and real to us.

Without the Holy Spirit, the Christian faith would be no different than any other religion.

if Christianity in any way looks ordinary and empty of power, inviting the many observers, both within and outside, to compare it with any other religion then it is so, many a times, on account of the absence or dormant presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the followers of Christ.

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Grace and Faith

Today’s Gospel Text:  "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:17-19

Reflection: For a good teacher of the Christian faith, it is always a jugglery to balance their teaching between the law of grace and faith?

With the Christian being hammered by the word that justification is only through faith one begins to wonder what happens to the law, which Christ Jesus gives so much of importance in this passage of Scripture:

“For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”  (vs. 18)

Matthew is writing to a community that is predominantly Jewish converts who hold the law in high esteem.  

This doesn’t mean that in seeking to write to this community that Matthew has put words in the mouth of Jesus, but rather Matthew may have tailor made the teachings of Jesus to an audience that needs it.

As means for salvation, the law, as prescribed, has no value in itself in the new order of Salvation set forth by Christ.

If the diligent practice of the law saved the Israelite then in the new order set forth by Christ Jesus we are saved by faith through grace. 

Jesus Christ, who came to free us from the yoke of slavery to the law, clearly clarifies the importance of the law for himself so as to fulfill its demands, as a demand set forth by God and thus to become our savior by fulfilling every demand of it perfectly.

Then do we abrogate the law as useless? No, it is the law with its demands, which had the power over us  and which could still have the power over us if we submit to it wholeheartedly, which is useless.

In the new order set forth by Christ we live in the greater freedom of Christ's Spirit, in which we rise above the law that subjugates and kills and submit ourselves to the life giving spirit, Jesus Christ who saves.

To live by the Spirit means to live a life of much more perfection than what the law required and what is more the grace of the Holy Spirit assists us in our walk as Christians to lead a noble and dedicated life in Christ Jesus.

For a Christian the knowledge of the law is an aid in knowing the mind of the Spirit of God, who is far greater than the law he has given.

Prayer: Lord you have promised to pour out your Holy Spirit into our hearts and cause us to walk in your ways. (cfr. Ez. 36:27) 

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us