Holy Spirit’s Work

Today’s Gospel Text:  If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true; 32 there is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish, these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen; 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. 39 You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me; 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from men. 42 But I know that you have not the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?" John 5:31-47

Reflection: There is a great need in our times to live up to the mandate to spread the gospel through great signs and wonders and thus also go about our duty as Christians of proclaiming the gospel of our Lord.

There are some who cannot fulfill the demands of the gospel and may thus oppose this idea. They may give all sorts of excuses on why one should not encourage signs and wonders or will kill the very idea with a theological weapon based on contextualized reasoning’s.  

The mere preaching of the gospel minus the accompanying signs and wonders in the life of the preacher is like driving a vehicle without the headlights in the dark. 

But someone may say; what is important is the witness of life! 

Without dispute; what is that witness of life, if not accompanied with signs and wonders.

Jesus brings out this aspect of the truth very powerfully in this passage of the gospel when he says:

If I bear witness to myself, my testimony is not true; there is another who bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is true. (vs. 31-32)

Who is this other, if not the Holy Spirit who accompanies the work of Jesus with signs and wonders, grace and mercy.

Hence Jesus is not alone and does not just bear testimony to himself. If he did that then it would have been false, but there is another that bears testimony to Jesus and his testimony is true and that is the Holy Spirit.

We too need that someone else, each one of us as Christian have been given the Holy Spirit to be witnesses of Christ and this Holy Spirit needs to accompany our witness of the truth of Christ, then will our testimony be true.

Then will we be true witnesses; witnessing with our lives empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

But some scuttle the work of God witnessing with the devils envy and by being jealous about these instruments of God.

Prayer:  Lord, may my heart be open to the witness that the Holy Spirit is able to accomplish as I seek to be your instrument.

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

Sign of the Cross

Today’s Gospel Text:  After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast, for they too had gone to the feast.

46 So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Caper'na-um there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." 49 The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." 50 Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live"; and he himself believed, and all his household. 54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. John 4:43-54

Reflection: Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." (vs. 48)

How fortunate were these people who saw the signs and wonder which Jesus performed; for their eyes beheld the great works of God in their midst and they were many who believed and were blessed.

What shall we say about our generation, there are quite a few who are simple and eagerly believe when they see the signs and wonders taking place in their midst

But there are many in our generation who care less for these signs and wonders.

Signs and wonders are first of all the great merciful actions of God. God need not perform signs and wonders but he does that in order that we may believe in him and his love.

Hence the actions of Jesus whether to raise the dead and heal the sick and set people free from the yoke of slavery to sin and demons are actions that reveal the mighty love of God to humanity; so that free from the yoke of sicknesses, fear and guilt they may serve God in the freedom of their heart.

If God performs a sign for us, we now know that he does so in order that we may believe and trust in him, as one who is true, real, all powerful and almighty and that he is the only one who can save us.

Hence the greatest sign of all times, which required of him to prove himself to us and his love for us is the  sign of the death on the cross.

    

"This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.  For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nin'eveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. Luke 11:29-30

  

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Cor 1:22-25

Prayer: Lord, may the sign of your cross transform me each day more and more into your image and likeness.

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

Attitude Required

Today’s Gospel Text:  And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him; and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Ja'irus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, 23 and besought him, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." 24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well." 29 And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my garments?" 31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?'" 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" 36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Tal'itha cu'mi"; which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." 42 And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:21-43

Reflection: O yea! How we love to see wonderful and magical happenings and we may go out of our way to see such phenomenons and yet there could a better one in our own neighborhood which we may never observe or miss out on. 

The dramatic appearance of Jairus and his falling at Jesus’ feet and beseeching him to come and heal his daughter may have drawn the attention of the many that were there and this may have attracted a great crowd to follow Jesus to the house of Jairus to see another of the miracle performed by Jesus.

But in the meanwhile, while Jesus was on his way, there was another more marvelous miracle, concerning an ordinary lady, about to take place. This woman appears to have been unassumingly simple and ordinary. 

The crowd almost missed it and we too could miss out on the great beauty of this miracle. 

There are many factors which makes this miracle a marvel:

She had gone to many physicians and was treated by many, and what is more, she had spent all her life savings in getting herself treated.  There was no question of losing hope as she had not lost her grits.

Modern medical science would immediately discern that she must have been anemic and weak. She may have been at her daily work with great determination despite the many aches and pains due to lack of quality blood in her system.

Such faith is not possible unless it is received in faith from above. Did she pray for the many years and now, more so, since her coffers were empty?  She seems to have shown a rock solid faith and trust in God; the only hope for this woman?

If there is anything we can learn from this woman then it is this: do not wait for sickness to trust God and do not seek to see the signs and wonders but be practical and active in believing in the one who is able to save us.

Rest is history as she touches the hem of his garment!

Prayer:  Lord, increase our faith that we may trust you in all situations and circumstances.

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