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.

Image courtesy: God's Not Dead

Mothers!

Stay humble. Stay in focus.

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve [disciples] aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, 19 and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”20 Then the mother[b] of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. 21 He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking.[c] Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” 23 He replied, “My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left [, this] is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. 26 But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; 27 whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. 28 Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom[d] for many.”-Matthew20:17-28

Mothers! Really! The many things a mother will do for her child. I cannot really blame the mother of James and John for asking such a request, after all, she only wants the best for her two sons. However, the kingdom of God is not according to our perceptions and expectations. It is not an Olympus or a magnificent place for the fabulous and the elite. The kingdom of God is all about love, humility, the cross, generosity, sacrifice, suffering and also joy. In the kingdom of God, the first and the great must be the servant and slave of all, willing to serve without counting the cost, willing to give up his/her life.

Image courtesy: Brooklyn Museum 

A Generous God

For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread,[a] 10 or a snake when he asks for a fish? 11 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.12 [b]“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.-Matthew7:7-12

Why, then, are some people suffering, in pain and in sorrow? Many asked, many sought, many knocked, but God seems to be not hearing anything at all. God always grants a request especially from a person with a sincere, humble and contrite heart. Isn't it a daily miracle that we can still wake up and go to work? God sometimes grants a request after a certain period has passed. Is it delay? No, more like making things happen at the right time and place. And, if God never granted a request, it only means He has something much bigger and better to give. Jesus is inviting us all to never stop praying, and to always always ask from a generous God.

image courtesy: artist