DAILY HOMILIES #faith

St. Paul points out in today’s First Reading that we are justified by faith, not by the Law, having been freed from the Law’s curse. However, our faith demands that we hear and keep God’s words. We keep God’s words because we love Him, not because we hope to justify ourselves. We keep God’s word because we are His children, not because we seek payment like workers (who hate their master but obey him to earn their salary).

In other words, demons cannot function without a host. They only possess a free heart (swept and tidy). If God occupies your heart, there will be no room for the demons. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8). We make our hearts attractive to demons when we expose ourselves to impure thoughts, wicked imaginations and other sinful acts. We are either with Jesus or against Him.

In the parable of a friend who needed help in the middle of the night, Jesus teaches us that even if God (like one who is already sleeping with his family at home) did not intend to answer your prayer initially, your persistence could make God go the extra mile (wake up his family) to help you.

When it comes to faith, there are always obstacles here and there, discouragement and stumbling blocks, but we must never give up; we must never say never until it is over - we must pray until something happens (P.U.S.H). Jesus told us: “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) but He never gave us any time frame. Be Patient with God.

top looking at the enormity of your problems and start learning how to fix your gaze permanently on God; learn to practice being in God’s presence. When we often ask, “God, where are you?” we forget He is always there. Your situation may be so bad that you now expect only the worst to happen; everything may have gotten out of hand, and your whole world may appear to be collapsing before your eyes; know this: God is right here with you.

The question now is: “What is the size of my faith?” Do I strongly believe that if I pray for someone, he or she would get well? What are my expectations when I lay my hands on the sick to pray? Dear friends, it is not enough to say: “I believe.” Your internal disposition must match your words. Little faith is equal to no faith.

God’s kingdom appears mysterious, yet children can easily understand it. To the “wise”, God’s kingdom is hidden, but to infants, God’s kingdom is clear and simple. This is because God’s kingdom goes beyond logic. To make sense of God’s kingdom, you must be able to think like a child. No wonder Jesus said: “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:16-17).

Pray with faith; pray with expectation; pray like Jarius and the woman with the issue of blood. Ensure that your actions before, during and after praying do not contradict your faith. The woman with the issue of blood backed her faith with action by touching the fringe of Jesus’ garment. Jarius, despite being a ruler in Israel, knelt before Jesus.

The life of St. Thomas, whom we celebrate today, is a typical example of a saint who was just like you and me. He had every reason to doubt the resurrection of Christ because nothing like that had ever happened before. However, when Jesus showed Himself to Thomas, he fell to his knees and worshipped Jesus, saying, “My Lord and My God!”

The question is not whether or not we will face trials, but how do we respond in such moments? Faced with the storms, the disciples expected the worst; they cried out, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” Jesus was disappointed with them not because they prayed but because they prayed with fear; that is, they were not expecting their prayers to be answered.

The irony of life is that while we look down on what is ours, others value it more. While many were struggling to believe in Jesus, a Centurion, a Roman Soldier in charge of a hundred soldiers, had enough faith to see that Jesus is God; that He only needs to speak the word and the whole world would obey. Even Jesus was amazed at his great faith: “In no one in Israel have I found such faith.” Can Jesus say this of you too? Do you believe there is power in prayer?

When you are terrified, open your mouth and start singing praises. Be like Paul and Silas, who could sing from prison and the glory of God manifested mightily. The chains were broken, and all the prisoners were set free. Faced with threats on every side from many who wanted his downfall, Jeremiah prays: “O Lord of hosts, who triest the righteous, who seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance upon them, for to thee have I committed my cause.”