What to do?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28 [a]Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 [b]Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”-John20:24-29

Some say religion is outdated. Some say religion, with its old teachings and traditions, has no place in the 21st century with all its technology and progress. Some even say that God does not exist at all since He cannot be sensibly perceived - no more parting of the Red Sea, no more triumph over our enemies, no more walking in the water, no more calming of the storm, and so forth. Poor, poor souls. Faith is freely given to all. It is given to you and me. God connected and reached out to us, but what about us? What are we going to do with the gift of faith? Are we going to ignore it or embrace it? Do we really have to sensibly perceive and understand God first before believing? “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

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Tempests

...even the winds and the sea obey

23 [a]He got into a boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a violent storm[b] came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. 25 They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us![c] We are perishing!” 26 He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?”[d] Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. 27 The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”-Matthew8:23-27

Jesus is inviting us to be unafraid when we are confronted by life's sufferings. He is asking us to have faith and believe that all will be well. Besides, we are not alone because God never leaves our side. God may be silent and seems to have gone away, but it is in silence that He works all the more for us. Miracles do happen. Sometimes a little faith is all that is needed.

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What's your miracle story?

“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”

21 When Jesus had crossed again [in the boat] to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. 22 One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet 23 and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her[a] that she may get well and live.” 24 He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.
25 There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. 28 [b]She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” 29 Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30 Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” 31 But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
35 [c]While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” 36 Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” 37 He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 [d]So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. 41 [e]He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” 42 The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. [At that] they were utterly astounded. 43 He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.-Mark5:21-43

It is never God's intention for us to suffer and die. However, some things do happen for a reason, for a purpose. Once, I held on to these stories; and like Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman, hoped for a miracle, for a happy ending. I spent and exhausted what faith, hope and trust in me as I await for a miracle. But nothing came. But looking back at my experience, my sorrow, pain and suffering actually helped me be a better person. It made me see my wrongs. One thing is certain, whether we got what we asked for or not, whether we have a happy ending or not, God will always be there for us and will always make things right.

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Make a Wish

Faith that makes miracles.

11 He entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area. He looked around at everything and, since it was already late, went out to Bethany with the Twelve.12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. 13 Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. 14 And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!” And his disciples heard it.15 They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 16 He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. 17 Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples’? But you have made it a den of thieves.”18 The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 When evening came, they went out of the city.20 Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. 23 Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. 25 When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.” [26 ][c]-Mark11:11-26

[22 Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. 23 Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.] But then, why is it that we have so many well-intentioned requests and yet are not granted? Why is it that despite squeezing all the faith in us, still our request is not granted? Why is it that even when bargaining with God, our request is not granted? Because sometimes (or most of the time) what we ask for is not what is truly good for us. Sometimes what we ask for is not in line with the will of God. Sometimes, God would have wanted us to persevere in asking until we are convinced that our petition is granted. The other day, I asked God to give me a chance to go back in time to undo my wrongs and to alter my life. A good request isn't it? I think so many people have done mistakes that they would want to change given a chance that they can travel back in time. But God said to me in prayer, "Are you ready to face the consequences of your actions?" The truth, no. It is easy to ask. It is easy to believe that what we are asking is for the good of all. But sometimes we fail to see what is truly good in the eyes of God.

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Not Alone

Jesus has conquered the world.

29 His disciples said, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. 30 Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.”[a] 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? 32 Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered[b] to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”-John16:29-33

It is easy to make promises when we are in our comfort zones. But sometimes our words, promises, oaths, vows, alliances and relationships are put to test through trials and difficulties. What we promised in one hour, can be broken in the next. In the Gospel, the disciples' statement truly manifest their faith in Jesus. But Jesus slams it by telling them that they will leave Him alone. And yet, despite this, Jesus is still the One who comforts them. In fact, Jesus who will suffer in the Passion, is the One strengthening them, preparing them and still blessing them with peace. Like His disciples, we, too, are always in the heart of Jesus. No matter what we failed to do, Jesus still beckons us to Himself. He will forgive and welcome us despite the weight of our sins.

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Jesus reveals Himself

Jesus reveals Himself to those who love Him.

21 Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” 22 Judas, not the Iscariot,[a] said to him, “Master, [then] what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.
25 “I have told you this while I am with you. 26 The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and remind you of all that [I] told you.-John14:21-26

So many people claim that they cannot see God nor can they relate to Jesus. They say, "It happened a long time ago." or "Religion is outdated in our modern world." or even question "Can it be true?" Today, Jesus has answer to them, "And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." To see Jesus, one must love Him. Love means believing. There are many ways to know Jesus such as - one must open one's mind to the Scriptures, one must open one's heart to Love, and one must be open to grace.

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Transcendence

Jesus will never leave us.

7 If you know me, then you will also know my Father.[a] From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father,[b] and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. 12 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.-John14:7-14

There are people who say that religion is outdated. Some people say, "Why do you still want to believe on something or Someone that existed a long time ago? Can it really be true?" As for me, I believe in Jesus and/or His works. If it is difficult to believe in His person, then "believe because of the works themselves." The problem with many of us is that we want everything to be seen, heard, touched, smelled or tasted. Well, there are things that go beyond the limits of nature and the universe - and that is Faith, Hope and Love.

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Long before it happened

Jesus knows.

16 Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger[a] greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. 18 I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.’ 19 From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. 20 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”-John13:16-20

Jesus said, "I know those whom I have chosen." Despite Peter's denial of Jesus, His Majesty still chose him as His disciple. Despite the other disciples' abandonment of Jesus, His Majesty still chose them as His disciples. And despite Judas' betrayal, the truth is, Jesus still chose him as His disciple. If I were to see my future, and if I found out that this or that person will betray me later on, as early as now I am going to distance myself or avoid that person. But Jesus never sent Judas away because He knew that every body can change. Jesus said, "From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM." Jesus is preparing His disciples of what's going to happen. Perhaps this is also Jesus' way of saying to them all not to lose heart, not to despair, to be strong and to believe that He has forgiven them all long before the Passion and Crucifixion happened. Long before our miseries came to be, Jesus has a ready solution at hand. All we have to do is accept the outstretched hand He is offering to us.

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The right thing

Believe

44 Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, 45 and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. 48 Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, 49 because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”-John12:44-50

Jesus is inviting us all to believe Him. Jesus is so full of love that He does not condemn nor judge. It will be our very own actions, our very heart, that will judge us. True that sometimes we are victims of injustice. Jesus knows how to make it right. But most of the time, we invite injustice and condemnation into our very own lives through our decisions. Why cry over imprisonment if indeed we committed a criminal act? Everything is grace. Jesus knows how to make things right.

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Belonging to Jesus

Believe.

22 The feast of the Dedication[a] was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. 23 [b]And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?[c] If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you[d] and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,[e] and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. 30 [f]The Father and I are one.”-John10:22-30

When a person's heart is close, it is difficult to open. When a person believes in something, no one or nothing can dissuade him/her from believing. Jesus' actions and words are so obvious. Many saw Jesus make miracles and extraordinary feats - healing incurable diseases, driving out demons, miracles, teaching with authority, etc. And yet, despite the obvious, the people do not want to believe. Today, there are still many people who try to discredit Jesus. But a true sheep that truly belongs to Jesus hears His voice, believes in Him even if others will not, follows Him even if others will not. To whom do we belong - to Jesus or to a godless world?

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The Bread that Gives Life

True food and true work.

22 [a]The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. 23 [b]Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. 24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life,[c] which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” 28 So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”-John6:22-29

The food that endures for eternal life comes from Jesus. It is through the Eucharist that we receive this very food that endures eternal life, comes from Jesus, Jesus Himself is the food, and a daily remembrance of Jesus' memory. And as Jesus said, '... work for food... that endures for eternal life.' What work then? To believe in Him, the One sent by God the Father. Jesus truly simplified everything. We need not do much work, rather, to simply believe in Him. We need not toil much for the food that will bring eternal life for it is right in our very midst - the Eucharist. Taking communion truly brings much blessings and graces!

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Hard to Convince

A heart that refuses to believe is difficult to convince.

1 [a]After this, Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. 2 But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 3 So his brothers[b] said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 No one works in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, manifest yourself to the world.” 5 For his brothers did not believe in him.... 14 When the feast was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple area and began to teach. 15 [f]The Jews were amazed and said, “How does he know scripture without having studied?” 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not my own but is from the one who sent me. 17 Whoever chooses to do his will[g] shall know whether my teaching is from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on his own seeks his own glory, but whoever seeks the glory of the one who sent him is truthful, and there is no wrong in him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You are possessed![h] Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered and said to them, “I performed one work[i] and all of you are amazed 22 because of it. Moses gave you circumcision—not that it came from Moses but rather from the patriarchs—and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. 23 If a man can receive circumcision on a sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a whole person well on a sabbath? 24 Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly.”25 So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? 26 And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities[j] have realized that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” 28 So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.-John7:1-30

Here, the people are torn between believing Jesus and hating Him. It seems that people have a lot of reasons and excuses to discredit Jesus. For them, Jesus is not worthy of the Knowledge of God, not worthy of the God-given gifts, not worthy to do miracles, not worthy to teach simply because they know Him, where He came from. A heart that refuses to believe is hard to convince. For them, it is much better to see somebody suffer rather than be healed or be helped on a Sabbath. Jesus' Words ring true for us also - 'Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly.' Jesus is teaching us that all works that origin from God is good. Who then are we to judge if a good act helped another?

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What did he see?

What did he see?

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.' Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.-John20:1a,2-8

It made me wonder, what did he see? what did he believe? Did he believe that "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him?" Whatever the answer may be, it is all now moot. But what do we see? And what do we believe? As the Christmas season continues, along with the upcoming new year, what is Jesus' invitation for us to see in our lives? Nowadays, it is difficult to believe if there is no concrete evidence supporting it. Not only in science, but almost everywhere. Is it enough of a reason to discredit a person just because change is slow? Is it difficult to believe that our world can be better despite its chaos?

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