BELIEF AND FAITH – GREATEST GIFTS WE RECEIVE!
Monday in the Third Week of Easter
My dear encountered couples:
Shortly after the feeding of the 5,000 people, his disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea. The next day, the crowd of people that were gathered, realized that Jesus had not gotten into the boat with his disciples. Where had Jesus gone to?
When the people realized that Jesus was no longer in the area, they got into boats and crossed over to Capernaum. They hoped to find Jesus there. And Jesus was there! The people asked Jesus: “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus did not answer their question. Rather, Jesus challenged the people. He said to them: “You are looking for me not because of the signs and wonders I have done. No, you have come to me because you ate until you were satisfied.” Jesus then tells them: “Do not work for food that will spoil. Work for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you!” The people then asked Jesus what they could do to accomplish the works of God? Jesus replied simply and succinctly: “This is the work of God: believe in the One God sent!”
Do we truly believe in Jesus, the “the One God sent” to us? Do we believe with our whole hearts and our whole beings? Or do we simply believe with our minds? Our minds have the ability to accumulate a great amount of information and understand it. However, belief comes from the heart!
The cliché seeing in believing is a recurrent theme during this Covid-19 pandemic. Our global community is battling an enemy we cannot see. The rhythm of our lives and the roles we assumed have been suddenly suspended. This pandemic shows us the harsh reality of economic, social and climate injustices. As we hear predictions and recommendations, we just want to be shown the one right answer.
The challenge and gift are: belief is not logical. Belief cannot be proven. Belief requires us to trust what our hearts know and understand. Belief and faith are the greatest gifts we ever will receive! Do we appreciate those gifts?
