DAILY HOMILIES #faith

Let us put ourselves in the shoes of Abraham. You have prayed for something for so many years and it has not come to pass. Would you continue to believe in God? Consider the Jews who were Jesus’ audience, a man in his thirties says to you, “I existed over a thousand years ago.” Would you believe it? It takes the eyes of faith to come to terms with certain truths especially when the visible facts appear to contradict that truth.

Christians who see the Christian faith as a shortcut to success, comfort, and prosperity cannot withstand trials. When they don’t get what they expect, they rush to wherever they expect solutions. They are not afraid of God; for them, God is just a tool, an option among many providers.

Child of God, you do not need the display of signs and wonders to believe. Place your complete trust in Jesus and not in any man or woman of God. If truly you believe that your prayers would be answered, God who sees your heart will reward your faith and grant what you ask.

We remember St. Patrick today, a man who like Peter fully explored his spiritual potential making such a huge catch of souls in Ireland.

Prayer is not just about asking, it also involves doing. Jesus makes clear the point: “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Aspire for sainthood. Place your trust in God. Be detached from worldly goods. God surely knows how to take care of his own.

“If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” (James 2:15-17)

It is not all that glitters that is gold. Ill-gotten wealth (blood-money) is a curse one places upon his or her head. If you think you will laugh by making others cry, your laughter will soon become mourning and loud lamentation.

God dwells in a special way in the temple. That is why Jesus would go to the temple to drive out the money changers saying: “My House (that is, God’s dwelling place) shall be a house of prayer…” (Matthew 21:13).

When next you are faced with adversity, take it as a challenge to deepen your spiritual life, awaken your faith, become more grateful, count your blessings, appreciate God for what He has done in the past, and to increase your faith in Him.

A prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian.

When things get really tough and it seems as if crying is the only thing to do, go on your knees in faith. Get into prayer today! Believe in prayer, tap the power of prayer and your life will never remain the same again.