[stephenkhoo]

Taken from Homily

The implication for us in helping people to grow in faith is that we must take the cue from Jesus. We must help those who are skeptical of God or of life by helping them to see the goodness in themselves. Our initial task therefore is to help them to remove their blindness with regard to themselves and their goodness. This is an important preliminary stage. We must not be too quick to counsel such a person on what is right or wrong, or attempt to prove our faith about God and the beauty and meaning of life, in spite all the sufferings and sins of humanity. So to gain someone’s trust, we must begin by noticing them, or by recognizing their uniqueness and their qualities. Instead of reacting negatively towards them, we must see what is positive in them and affirm them in their goodness. To be able to see what the person could be tomorrow, rather than just what he or she is today, was what Jesus did. Even though Nathaniel was negative towards Him, Jesus remained very positive towards him. He saw in Nathaniel his potential to do greater things, just as He did with St Peter and St Paul. Both of them were also great sinners but Jesus was able to see the saint in them. Neither did He condemn Nathaniel for his skepticism. Instead, He helped him to see the positive aspect of it. Jesus understood Nathaniel’s anger and fears. He felt with him in His compassion, and because Jesus accepted him, Nathaniel was able to accept himself.

So, when we encounter faithless and hopeless people, we must try to overcome their hostility with love and patience, not with hatred or resentment. The latter approach would only reinforce their bitterness with life and with themselves, and most of all, confirm their negative outlook towards people and life. Instead, we need to affirm them so that they can open their eyes once again to the love of God in them and for them. Only then can they see the goodness of God in others, in life and find Him in all things.