[stephenkhoo]

THE DANGER OF DOUBT IS OVERCOME BY PRAYING WITH FAITH FOR DIVINE WISDOM
SCRIPTURE READINGS: JAMES 1:1-11; MK 8:11-13
http://www.universalis.com/20140217/mass.htm

How strong are you when you are undergoing trials in life, whether these are challenges that come from relationships, at work, in sickness and setbacks? Many of us think that we are strong and secure in life until we face tragedies or events that heighten our vulnerabilities. In good times, we think our faith in God is well grounded and firm. But the acid test is when we lose control over our lives and have no one to depend on except God alone! The truth is that many of us begin to doubt the love and fidelity of God, leading to doubts about the sincerity and loyalty of the love of their friends and ultimately doubts about themselves.

Indeed, one of the strategies of the Evil One is to sow the seed of doubt in our hearts. This is the weapon that the Devil will try to use, especially when he fails in his attempts to lead us to sin. Doubt is the beginning of sin. The moment we begin to doubt the love of God and of our loved ones and friends for us, we begin to lose grip over our lives. As a consequence, we also begin to doubt ourselves. The irony is that one then begins to rely only on oneself instead of God and much less still to trust in his fellowmen. Eventually, trusting in no one but himself, he becomes so inward looking that he ends up as a bitter, resentful and vindictive person, hating God, the world and people. Thus, we can appreciate what St James tells us in the first reading. He warns us that “a person who has doubts is like the waves thrown up in the sea when the wind drives. “

In today’s gospel the people had doubts about Jesus too. Their desire for signs is something that man is always seeking throughout the ages. This is because the Devil has found that the weapon of doubt is the most powerful means to unsettle us.

In a world of science and technology where everything is supposedly based on reason, faith has no place in this world. People want to know so that they can believe. But precisely isn’t this the attitude of the Jews during the time of Jesus? They were saying exactly the same thing. “Show me and I will believe!”

But the answer to this way of faith is debunked by Jesus as but another egoistic expression of pride. Man will refuse to believe unless God proves His love and His power. Isn’t that what the Devil was telling Jesus during the temptations? He was suggesting to Jesus to test His Father’s love for Him. And the consistent reply of Jesus was: “You must not put the Lord to the test!” Thus, in today’s gospel, Jesus with great frustration said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.’”

This does not mean that we cannot clarify our faith. Reason and faith do not contradict each other. Reason alone cannot explain everything but must be supplemented by faith. Reason alone cannot arrive at this personal knowledge of God’s will and love because this must be revealed by God Himself. Studying creation and the effects of God’s love can only tell us that God exists but it cannot tell us who He truly is. To know a person, the person must choose to reveal Himself to us freely. So we must be watchful that we do not fall into the same snare that the Devil has laid out for us.

What, then, is the antidote to doubt, if not faith? One can begin with reason to know Him, but when one arrives at the threshold of God’s House; he must take the leap of faith to surrender himself to Him. Otherwise, he remains outside the threshold of God’s love.

If Jesus demands that we have total and absolute faith in Him, it is because without trust, one cannot love. This is true in any human relationship. We cannot expect our friends to prove that they love us. Yes, without confidence and trust in a person’s love, such a relationship cannot be sustained. It will only lead to a breakdown in communication because of constant doubt. Mistrust leads to suspicion, misinterpretation of intentions, anger, resentment and bitterness.

How, then, can we have this faith as St James exhorts us? We must pray for divine wisdom. St James assures us, “If there is any one of you who needs wisdom, he must ask God, who gives to all freely and ungrudgingly; it will be given to him.“ Yes, divine wisdom is the key to help us to find our perspective in life.

Divine wisdom reveals to us the passing trials and riches of life. St James pointedly wrote, “It is right for the poor brother to be proud of his high rank, and the rich one to be thankful that he as been humbled, because riches last no longer than the flowers in the grass; the scorching sun comes up, and the grass withers, the flower falls; what looked so beautiful now disappears. It is the same with the rich man: his business goes on; he himself perishes.” Yes, with divine wisdom, we will no longer cling to what is earthly and transient. Hence, we should not allow the vicissitudes of life to upset us too much. With divine wisdom, we can take them as they come our way, without too much regret or sadness.

Indeed, divine wisdom reveals to us the meaning of our trials as the psalmist prays. With faith and tranquility, he accepts the sufferings of life as blessings from God as St James said, “My brothers, 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 to make you patient, but patience too is to have practical results so that you will become fully developed, complete, with nothing missing.” Truly, only Divine Wisdom can show us that trials and sufferings are permitted by God as means of His merciful love to prune, purify and strengthen us in love; authentic, selfless, vicarious love without any taint of self-centeredness and personal benefits. With divine wisdom, our trials and sufferings will make us complete because we can then identify with Jesus’ passion for us on the cross.

Let us therefore pray with faith for the gift of divine wisdom today. Most of all, we will not lose our focus and bearing even when we face opposition in doing good. We will strive to continue to love the loveless and the unlovable. We will continue to hope against all hope. We will continue to trust even when trust is broken. We will continue to be broken for others precisely because they are so broken. Like Jesus, let us be bread broken for the world.