DATE : 30/1/2021, Saturday of the
Third Week of Ordinary Time (B)
EVENT : Mass of the Weekday or B.VM
COLOUR:Green/White
READINGS : Heb. 11:1-2.8-19; Resp. Psalm Luke
1:69-70.71-72.73-75; Mark 4:35-41.
THEME:
WITHOUT FAITH, NO MIRACLE CAN BE EFFECTED
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome
you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Thirtieth day of January,
I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Without Faith, No Miracle Can
Be Effected". Beloved in Christ, my work in the rural part of Northern
Nigeria, and the personal contacts I make with the locals here, have made me to
realise more convincingly, the power of faith. Often times, when most of us who
are privileged to have certain basic provisions of life speak and think of
faith, we do so in the abstract. Not knowing in concrete terms what it implies.
You will know the degree of your faith, if the only thing you have to rely on
for sustenance is on the grace of God to provide for your daily need, to keep
you healthy, and to grant you healing because there is no money for hospital
bills. When you rely solely on God to keep you
safe from herdsmen, bandits and marauding killers because there is not a
single security personnel in sight. Thus, according to the definition and mind
of the Church, 'faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a deep conviction
of the availability of things not yet seen' (CCC Art. 146). Faith is a gift
from God, which enables us to trustfully believe without doubting that whatever
has been proclaimed by God or uttered by his anointed ones, will surely come to
pass. This is why the patriarch, Abraham, continues to shine brightly as a
beacon of faith. While it may sound foolish and risky to the modern mind, in
faith, Abraham obeyed and started off to a distance land, where he was told
that he will receive the reward of a bountiful inheritance. By faith, Abraham
believed that his descendants will supersede the grains of sand on the
seashore, even when at 100 years, he hadn't sired a single child. In faith,
Abraham was ready to be a homicider, provided God has uttered it.
Beloved, the letter to the Hebrew, from whence our first reading today
emerge, speaks of faith in a very profound way. Here, faith is seen as perfect
spiritual obedience. A childlike and free submission of the 'will' to the word
that has been heard, because it's truth veracity is anchored on God, who
himself is truth and doesn't deceive (Cf. Number 23:19). Faith is like a master
key, that unlocks all spiritual doors, and a 'pass' that enable us to access
God's good treasure. So, no matter how full of rich treasures a fortified house
is, if you do not have the 'pass' or right key to open its door, you may only
be seeing and savouring the goodness therein, but you cannot enjoy its
contents. Beloved, have you observed that although Jesus is God with all the
powers therein, he never performed a single miracle without seeking the faith
level of the recipient. Hence, faith is indispensable if you desire miracle and
blessings.
Beloved in Christ, do not be deceived by any body claiming to be a
miracle worker. Do not hinge your hope for miracle on another mortal man. Do
not think that your salvation and deliverance will come from without. No, your
help shall only come from God. And for your help to come from God, you must
bank your faith 100% on him. You must trust in his promises, and you must
dispel every form of fear or doubt. I pray that as this month draws to an end,
God will show himself mighty in your life according to the level of your
faith.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts
(Ps.95:7-8)
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, I trust in you, help
my faith in you never to dwindle even when you seem to be silent....
The Lord be with you....... and
with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit......Amen
HAPPY WEEKEND BELOVED FRIENDS
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
