02-13-2012, 10:48 AM
Monday, 13 February, 2012, 6th Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle 2
FAITH DURING TRIAL REQUIRES GOD’S WISDOM
SCRIPTURE READINGS: JAMES 1:1-11; MK 8:11-13
In the gospel, Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees for demanding a sign. They wanted proof and miracles for believing in Jesus. However, Jesus refused to give in to such demands for He knows that no miracle can prove anything without faith. Indeed, they had already witnessed miracles, for this demand came right after Jesus had multiplied food to feed the four thousand with seven loaves and a few fish. The Pharisees had also seen Jesus healing the man whose hand was withered in the synagogue. So there were sufficient signs to believe in Jesus, but the Pharisees simply refused to believe. To demand for more miracles, and spectacular ones, is but the manifestation of a lack of trust both in the love and the power of God. That being the case, faith in God will never happen since it demands proof and signs all the time. Without faith, the person remains insecure because he lacks confidence in himself, in others and especially in God. He trusts no one and is condemned to a life of fear.
Indeed, only faith is pleasing to God. This explains the sigh that came from Jesus’ heart when He remarked in deep disappointment, “Why does this generation demand a sign?” Why is that so? Because without faith, no relationship with God is possible! All relationships depend on faith. No love can exist between two persons when trust is lacking. But when one trusts, then a relationship can develop. This principle runs through at every level. When children no longer trust their parents or vice versa, no learning is possible since they will always doubt each other’s motives and sincerity. When spouses no longer have confidence in each other, how can there be open sharing of each other’s lives, especially their weaknesses and vulnerabilities? This is also true especially in leadership and formation as well. When the leadership loses the trust of the members, no formation is possible. However, when the leadership gains the trust of the members, then there is receptivity and docility even when unpopular but necessary decisions are made.
How then do we measure the depth of our faith? According to St James, the best way to measure our faith in God is not when things are well. Rather, it is when we are put to the test. When our life is smooth and things are going well with us, a promising career, happy family, loving spouse, caring parents and in-laws, obedient and responsible children, good health, etc, surely we can praise God and thank Him for His blessings! But the test of faith comes when we suffer tragedy in life, not just one, but simultaneously. As it is said, misfortunes never come singly. There are some who suffer one setback after another, a sickness followed by a loss of job, death in the family, an impending divorce, etc.
How then can we deal with the trials in life positively? In such a situation, St James urges us to be steadfast in faith. He said, “You will always have your trials but, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test.” He called it a privilege and joy to be tested during trials because our faith will grow in strength through our patience and we become “fully-developed, complete, with nothing missing.” Misfortunes, suffering and pain are the real battlefields that make great heroes, greater than those renowned praises that are sung of heroes that we know. The true heroes in life are the humble homemaker; the wife at home looking after the children; the father who is a labourer working hard to meet ends meet and send his children to school. These are the real illustrious unsung heroes of our times who sacrifice much for their loved ones and for the country.
Indeed, we are most tested when things are not developing the way we would like them to. Whether as priests or as lay people, we are tested in faith all the time. Sometimes, it could be due to our personal struggles in our spiritual life or in our family and work lives. At times, we are scandalized by the misconduct, politicking and backbiting among priests and Church leaders. Most of all, we are tested in faith when we feel inadequate and helpless in ministry work when we find ourselves unable to meet the demands of our people. In all these situations, we need to be patient and hang on, waiting for God to act, especially when we have done all we could according to our positions in life.
Of course, the greater level of faith is to suffer without understanding. This is when we face the dark night of the soul. This could also happen when we suffer unjustly because of our desire to do the right thing. We are often misunderstood, ridiculed and marginalized even by those people who should be empowering and supporting us. No greater pain can we suffer than when even our loved ones and those who are in charge of us and whom we have served so faithfully condemn us. We feel so helpless and unjustified. The greatest temptation in times of suffering, especially innocent suffering, is to take the matter into our own hands and totally disregard the instructions of the authorities. When we see that things are not moving the way we desire, many of us make our own decisions, acting against those who have authority over us. In such a situation, the faith that is asked of us is total trust in God. We are called to have confidence in submitting to His divine will. St Teresa of Avila invites us to trust Him when she wrote, “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you; all things pass: God never changes. Patience achieves all it strives for. Whoever has God lacks nothing, God alone suffices.” The question is, do we have this faith in the fidelity and wisdom of God’s love for us?
Consequently in times of trial, St James urges us to pray for wisdom. Faith and wisdom complement each other. It is normal to feel shaken or disillusioned in times of trial as we do not understand why certain things are happening to us. That being the case, we must pray for wisdom and understanding. The real challenge of faith is when we are called to trust God in things not seen. But we can do this only if we see life from the perspective of God and not from the side of man. To pray for wisdom is to pray that we might acquire the mind of God and see things as He sees.
St James said, “If there is any one of you who needs wisdom, he must ask God, who gives to all freely and ungrudgingly.” Only through divine wisdom, St James says are we able to give praise to God for all things, as in the case of the poor man who is exalted and the rich man who is humbled because both recognize that nothing happens by chance and there is a lesson to be learnt from everything in life. In other words, when we see everything from the perspective of God, we will come to realize that success comes from God. At the same time, we do not cling to our successes and riches because we know that these things do not last. When we realize this truth, and by not clinging on to riches in this world, we can accept joys and sorrows as they come. In this way, even though we suffer, we can suffer courageously since we suffer wisely. For sufferings endured patiently only make us more loving and wholesome.
In truth, we must see things in perspective. Quite often it is because of our ignorance and selfishness that we focus only on our sufferings and forget the many blessings we have received. We tend to exaggerate our sufferings and our pains as if we have received no blessings from the Lord. It is said, “If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart.” Trials and sufferings need not be setbacks for us if we accept them as part of this whole process of purification in love for God and our fellowmen. And while we are unable to take away all the pain of humanity including ours, we can certainly alleviate and mitigate the pain by relieving the pain of others according to our capacity. No one expects us to take away their pain because in truth, no one can do it. But to know that someone is with us in our pain, to hear the assuring words, “I care and I am here for you. We will carry this burden together” is most consoling and uplifting.
In the final analysis, we can pray with faith for the gift of wisdom or a simple and pure faith only when we know God personally. It is our personal relationship with God that gives us the confidence to trust in Him no matter what happens. It is this kind of faith that is truly pleasing to God. A faith that is rooted in a personal relationship is the only kind of faith that can sustain us in times of trial. When we know Jesus is trustworthy, then we can surrender our lives to Him even when we do not understand. This is the childlike faith that Jesus asks of us. Instead of taking things into our own hands, we trust in God’s vindication.
Today, we must therefore pray with faith for the gift of faith. Let us ask the Lord for an unwavering faith in Him. Let us pray that through the celebration of the Eucharist and hearing the Word of God; through prayer and in dying to ourselves, we will grow in faith more and more each day. Our trust in Jesus should be growing each day, and for this to happen, we need to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and therefore develop a faith that can withstand all trials and persecutions in our lives.
FAITH DURING TRIAL REQUIRES GOD’S WISDOM
SCRIPTURE READINGS: JAMES 1:1-11; MK 8:11-13
In the gospel, Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees for demanding a sign. They wanted proof and miracles for believing in Jesus. However, Jesus refused to give in to such demands for He knows that no miracle can prove anything without faith. Indeed, they had already witnessed miracles, for this demand came right after Jesus had multiplied food to feed the four thousand with seven loaves and a few fish. The Pharisees had also seen Jesus healing the man whose hand was withered in the synagogue. So there were sufficient signs to believe in Jesus, but the Pharisees simply refused to believe. To demand for more miracles, and spectacular ones, is but the manifestation of a lack of trust both in the love and the power of God. That being the case, faith in God will never happen since it demands proof and signs all the time. Without faith, the person remains insecure because he lacks confidence in himself, in others and especially in God. He trusts no one and is condemned to a life of fear.
Indeed, only faith is pleasing to God. This explains the sigh that came from Jesus’ heart when He remarked in deep disappointment, “Why does this generation demand a sign?” Why is that so? Because without faith, no relationship with God is possible! All relationships depend on faith. No love can exist between two persons when trust is lacking. But when one trusts, then a relationship can develop. This principle runs through at every level. When children no longer trust their parents or vice versa, no learning is possible since they will always doubt each other’s motives and sincerity. When spouses no longer have confidence in each other, how can there be open sharing of each other’s lives, especially their weaknesses and vulnerabilities? This is also true especially in leadership and formation as well. When the leadership loses the trust of the members, no formation is possible. However, when the leadership gains the trust of the members, then there is receptivity and docility even when unpopular but necessary decisions are made.
How then do we measure the depth of our faith? According to St James, the best way to measure our faith in God is not when things are well. Rather, it is when we are put to the test. When our life is smooth and things are going well with us, a promising career, happy family, loving spouse, caring parents and in-laws, obedient and responsible children, good health, etc, surely we can praise God and thank Him for His blessings! But the test of faith comes when we suffer tragedy in life, not just one, but simultaneously. As it is said, misfortunes never come singly. There are some who suffer one setback after another, a sickness followed by a loss of job, death in the family, an impending divorce, etc.
How then can we deal with the trials in life positively? In such a situation, St James urges us to be steadfast in faith. He said, “You will always have your trials but, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test.” He called it a privilege and joy to be tested during trials because our faith will grow in strength through our patience and we become “fully-developed, complete, with nothing missing.” Misfortunes, suffering and pain are the real battlefields that make great heroes, greater than those renowned praises that are sung of heroes that we know. The true heroes in life are the humble homemaker; the wife at home looking after the children; the father who is a labourer working hard to meet ends meet and send his children to school. These are the real illustrious unsung heroes of our times who sacrifice much for their loved ones and for the country.
Indeed, we are most tested when things are not developing the way we would like them to. Whether as priests or as lay people, we are tested in faith all the time. Sometimes, it could be due to our personal struggles in our spiritual life or in our family and work lives. At times, we are scandalized by the misconduct, politicking and backbiting among priests and Church leaders. Most of all, we are tested in faith when we feel inadequate and helpless in ministry work when we find ourselves unable to meet the demands of our people. In all these situations, we need to be patient and hang on, waiting for God to act, especially when we have done all we could according to our positions in life.
Of course, the greater level of faith is to suffer without understanding. This is when we face the dark night of the soul. This could also happen when we suffer unjustly because of our desire to do the right thing. We are often misunderstood, ridiculed and marginalized even by those people who should be empowering and supporting us. No greater pain can we suffer than when even our loved ones and those who are in charge of us and whom we have served so faithfully condemn us. We feel so helpless and unjustified. The greatest temptation in times of suffering, especially innocent suffering, is to take the matter into our own hands and totally disregard the instructions of the authorities. When we see that things are not moving the way we desire, many of us make our own decisions, acting against those who have authority over us. In such a situation, the faith that is asked of us is total trust in God. We are called to have confidence in submitting to His divine will. St Teresa of Avila invites us to trust Him when she wrote, “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you; all things pass: God never changes. Patience achieves all it strives for. Whoever has God lacks nothing, God alone suffices.” The question is, do we have this faith in the fidelity and wisdom of God’s love for us?
Consequently in times of trial, St James urges us to pray for wisdom. Faith and wisdom complement each other. It is normal to feel shaken or disillusioned in times of trial as we do not understand why certain things are happening to us. That being the case, we must pray for wisdom and understanding. The real challenge of faith is when we are called to trust God in things not seen. But we can do this only if we see life from the perspective of God and not from the side of man. To pray for wisdom is to pray that we might acquire the mind of God and see things as He sees.
St James said, “If there is any one of you who needs wisdom, he must ask God, who gives to all freely and ungrudgingly.” Only through divine wisdom, St James says are we able to give praise to God for all things, as in the case of the poor man who is exalted and the rich man who is humbled because both recognize that nothing happens by chance and there is a lesson to be learnt from everything in life. In other words, when we see everything from the perspective of God, we will come to realize that success comes from God. At the same time, we do not cling to our successes and riches because we know that these things do not last. When we realize this truth, and by not clinging on to riches in this world, we can accept joys and sorrows as they come. In this way, even though we suffer, we can suffer courageously since we suffer wisely. For sufferings endured patiently only make us more loving and wholesome.
In truth, we must see things in perspective. Quite often it is because of our ignorance and selfishness that we focus only on our sufferings and forget the many blessings we have received. We tend to exaggerate our sufferings and our pains as if we have received no blessings from the Lord. It is said, “If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap, whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart.” Trials and sufferings need not be setbacks for us if we accept them as part of this whole process of purification in love for God and our fellowmen. And while we are unable to take away all the pain of humanity including ours, we can certainly alleviate and mitigate the pain by relieving the pain of others according to our capacity. No one expects us to take away their pain because in truth, no one can do it. But to know that someone is with us in our pain, to hear the assuring words, “I care and I am here for you. We will carry this burden together” is most consoling and uplifting.
In the final analysis, we can pray with faith for the gift of wisdom or a simple and pure faith only when we know God personally. It is our personal relationship with God that gives us the confidence to trust in Him no matter what happens. It is this kind of faith that is truly pleasing to God. A faith that is rooted in a personal relationship is the only kind of faith that can sustain us in times of trial. When we know Jesus is trustworthy, then we can surrender our lives to Him even when we do not understand. This is the childlike faith that Jesus asks of us. Instead of taking things into our own hands, we trust in God’s vindication.
Today, we must therefore pray with faith for the gift of faith. Let us ask the Lord for an unwavering faith in Him. Let us pray that through the celebration of the Eucharist and hearing the Word of God; through prayer and in dying to ourselves, we will grow in faith more and more each day. Our trust in Jesus should be growing each day, and for this to happen, we need to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and therefore develop a faith that can withstand all trials and persecutions in our lives.