Jesus is knocking in our hearts

Jesus is I AM.

51 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” 52 [So] the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham,[a] who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it[b] and was glad. 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?”[c] 58 [d]Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.-John8:51-59

As I read the gospel reading and as I put myself in the shoes of the people during Jesus' time, in some way I understand how they feel. Jesus speaks the truth of His identity, but it is difficult to understand. It is difficult to understand because the people cannot accept it. The people cannot accept it because their hearts are closed all along. Today, the Church continues to battle the close and hardened hearts of some people. Many people today like to accomplish things instantly. Instant coffee, instant laundry, instant cooking, instant money, etc. When things go wrong, these people want to end it instantly as well. Few seem to care to the marriage vows of "... for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and health, till death do us part." Now, if it's worse, poverty or sickness, a husband or wife can walk away from their marriage by justifying themselves that they are not happy anymore, so why stick in an unhappy union? Jesus continues to knock in our hearts. Jesus continues to put His faith in us that we will open our heart, mind and soul to Him. Instant doesn't mean the right answer to all our troubles. Listening to Jesus and letting Him guide us will make life happier and better.

Image courtesy: St. Tekla 

Hear His Voice

Hear the voice of Jesus.

17 [a]But Jesus answered them, “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” 18 For this reason the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.19 [b]Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also. 20 For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life,[c] so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. 22 Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment[d] to his Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. 25 Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself. 27 And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 [e]Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.30 “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.-John5:17-30

One word struck me the most - Hear. Jesus put emphasis on hearing (and listening) to His voice. The voice of Jesus can be found in the Scriptures and in the silence of our hearts. The question is, are we willing to hear and listen to it? Do we listen to our conscience?

Today, Jesus is inviting us to seek also the will of God for us. Yes, God answers when we ask Him about His plan and will for us. But, it is unfortunate that we sometimes cannot hear it or we cannot accept it because we prefer our own will.

Image courtesy: God's Not Dead

Jesus heals

We need God's healing.

53 After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. 54 As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. 55 They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.-Mark6:53-56

As I reflected, I remembered a scene in a movie where a religious icon was passing through some sick persons lying on mats. One man was suddenly cured. However, the local physician said that it was just a farce because it was impossible to be cured by a passing religious icon alone. We live in a world that demands proof. Science can give proof about its methods, therefore, is accepted. While miracles came to be, thanks to God's mercy. Since miracles cannot show its methods, not all are convinced about it. "How? Prove it! Prove it!" they say. I consider our lack of faith in God as a kind of ailment that needs healing. We think we can be captain and commander of our own life, but the truth is, we cannot. Though science has answered a lot of questions, still, an abyss of unanswered questions lie in wait.

Image courtesy: artist - abyss