The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/052013.cfm) reminds us how powerful faith in God is, and how important it is to be humble and ask for it.
The gospel tells of a story of a boy possessed by a powerful demon – so powerful that the disciples could not drive it out. The boy’s father was losing hope, feeling helpless on the situation. See an excerpt of the conversation between the boy’s father and Jesus.
“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
How often do we act like the father? How often do we feel helpless in situations, that even us think that God cannot do anything about it? How often do we say we trust in God, but are not sure of it ourselves? How often do we say we have faith but deep in our hearts, we are still troubled and we do not know if God can really help us out.
As human beings, we are sometimes limited by what we see. We tend to think “realistically”, based on our situation or on what is actually happening. We focus on what is obvious and what we think is possible based on what happened previously or what our senses can perceive and do. However, unfortunately, sometimes we think God is the same with us – that he is limited by time and space, that his power is not real anymore, that he cannot do things except those what we think is possible and normal. We sometimes base our faith on what we think is possible instead on what God can do. We say we have faith in God, but at the back of our minds, we are thinking of alternative ways because we don’t think God will really come to help us out.
Faith is important for God to do miracles.it has been mentioned that faith can move mountains, and the lack of faith of people caused him not to do many miracles in his own town. And in the gospel, we are reminded that anything is possible to one who has faith. We may not immediately have that strong a faith, and it’s okay. As we can see, the boy’s father cried out to Jesus. I do believe, help my unbelief. Yes, I believe but not entirely. Naniniwala naman ako, Lord, pero kulang pa. I have faith in you – your love and your power, but sometimes the power of the world, the temptations and distractions of the world, is just so overwhelming. God, help me. Increase my faith.
May we be humble enough to admit that we lack faith, and pray that God help our unbelief and increase our faith in Him. May we really remember and live this – nothing is impossible to those who have faith.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for the weekend. Thank you for this beautiful reminder as I start the week – that nothing is impossible to those who have faith. Father God, I pray that you help me unbelief. I pray that you increase my faith. There are a lot of things I am thinking – things about my career, my family, and my service to you. Lord, I pray that you increase my faith and help me just trust in you as I live my life. I know you have great plans for me, and I know you will not disappoint me. May I always be open and allow you to pleasantly surprise me as I live for you. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflections (these contain some of my favourite faith stories):
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