Blog & Pastor Letters

Building Up Your Faith

06-28-2020Weekly ReflectionRev. Victor C. Yakubu

Christianity has to do with building up your faith in Jesus. There are many things you can learn from the Catechism class, from your parents and from your peers. But it all depends on your disposition to translate this information into your spiritual life. It is said that “you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink,” this applies to our lives as human beings in the sense that we have all the tools necessary for our spiritual growth, yet we take many things for granted.

I remember the story of a man who was traveling in his car. All the tire bolts on one of his tires fell off. The three other tires were intact. He stopped by the side of the road and was lamenting that one of his tires had no nuts due to rough terrain. It was a lonely road. He saw a man sitting by the road and engaged him in a conversation. He lamented his situation and cursed his vehicle. The man sitting by the side of the road advised him to loosen a nut on each of the three good tires and tighten them on the one without nuts. It worked and he continued his journey until he reached the city.

In the gospel, Jairus, a synagogue official, approached Jesus because he knew that his daughter needed help. Even when people from Jairus’ house reported that she was dead, Jesus urged him not to be afraid. He said to him, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” Amid the confusion in the house of Jairus, Jesus said to the dead child, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve years, rose and began to walk. Against the expectations of those who were in the house mourning and weeping, Jesus did the most expectable thing; he made the dead girl spring back to life.

Many times, we have lost faith in God and we feel alienated from him. At that moment of great disconnect, we need to remind ourselves that faith is the translation of all our learning in the catechism class that we need to allow God to work in us. God works miracles in the hearts of those who believe. The second story in Todays gospel shows us how a woman who suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years received her miracle.

She convinced herself that touching the cloak of Jesus could stop the flow of blood. Indeed, she became totally healed. When Jesus noticed her, he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”From that moment, this woman received God’s abundant life and a confirmation of her miracle.

For the Christian to experience God’s supernatural love, we need to open ourselves to the many opportunities offered to us through the Church. For example, the sacraments of the Church are contact points for receiving immense healing from. We need to learn from others about their miracles in their journey to eternal life. Remember the words of the Book of Wisdom, “For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it.” This is the point of this message: God designed you in his image so that you can build your faith in him. Although distractions may visit your life, do not allow the enemy to disconnect you from God’s love. The plan of the enemy is to teach you that confusion is not a challenge but a step to fly away from God. But remember, when you understand the antics of the enemy, you can always identify the colors of his folly.

St. Paul the apostle is an example of how we can build up our faith. He was harsh to the Christiansand uncharitable in the usage of his influence as a Jewish teacher of the law, yet, when Jesus touched him, he melted under God’s anointing. Listen to his words, “As you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also.” What is that gracious act? The answer is simple: learning about God and enriching your spiritual life. Our faith teaches us that God does extraordinary things to ordinary people not based on merit but based on love, which only takes eyes of faith to identify. Have you received any miracles from Jesus that you want others to hear to build their faith? Tell your own story. Keep praying!

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