Just come

Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ. (John 11:27) 

When we first think of St. Martha, we probably remember the story of hardworking Martha and her “contemplative” sister, Mary, who didn’t help her in the kitchen (Luke 10:38-42). Many of us probably have felt sorry for Martha when Jesus rebuked her.

But today, on Martha’s feast day, we read a different story. We don’t see busy Martha, complaining Martha, or worried and anxious Martha. We see steady Martha, who has the confidence to go out to meet Jesus and proclaim her faith in him—even in her grief. Martha has changed.

But how did this happen? She has “come to believe” (John 11:27). And so can we.

Martha’s faith was not a one-time event but a progressive growth in understanding of who Jesus was and what it meant to trust him. In this situation with her brother’s illness and death, Martha’s faith grew gradually as she spoke with Jesus and listened to him carefully. She knew that he was the Savior sent into this world. She trusted that he could heal their ailing brother, but she didn’t understand why Jesus deliberately delayed his coming. So she brought her confusion to him. 

Martha knew that Lazarus would rise on the last day, but she wasn’t sure what Jesus might do “even now” (John 11:22). She just wanted to be near him. So Jesus took the opportunity to speak with her, patiently asking questions that helped her to search her heart. And perhaps amazed herself, she was able to say, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe” (11:27). Then she ran to offer her sister the same opportunity. 

Our faith develops in the same incremental way. Jesus invites us to trust him. We express the little faith we have: “I do believe, help my unbelief,” and we tell Jesus what we don’t understand (Mark 9:24). Then he leads us little by little to a fuller understanding of who he is.

Don’t be afraid to question Jesus. Tell him what doesn’t make sense to you. Ask what small step he is inviting you to take, and try to be obedient. Then come back and ask again. Little by little, your flicker of faith will grow into a blazing fire.

“Jesus, I have come to believe in you. Help me to take the next step.”

from wau.org

No to negative thoughts

No one could travel by that road. (Matthew 8:28) 

Can you imagine how frightening it must have been to live near the Gadarene region while these demoniacs were on the loose? Everyone must have been afraid they would be attacked. Travelers were probably warned to stay away. The two men’s presence probably interrupted the flow of trade, made family visits difficult, and, as today’s Gospel says, even kept people from visiting their relatives’ graves. 

But with just one word from Jesus, the two men were delivered. Their demonic tormentors were gone, and their violent rampage ended. Not only were they set free, but everyone around them could travel again. Life returned to normal—even better than normal! 

Now, let’s apply this image to the way our minds work. Think about what happens when someone says something hurtful to you or does something that disappoints you. If you don’t turn to God and ask him to help you, negative thoughts could arise and fester inside. Without grace from the Lord, the devil could start tempting you to get angry, resentful, guilty, or scared. It might get so bad that you aren’t able to think of anything else. It’s as if all the other “travelers” in your mind were held hostage to these thoughts. 

The next time you find yourself harassed by negative thinking, try these three simple steps:

•  Take a close look at the thought that is bothering you, and call it what it is: “This is a divisive thought. This is a bitter thought. If I hold onto it, it will hurt my relationship with my friend.”

•  Stop and pray. Ask Jesus to help you cast out the offending thought: “Lord, I know this thought doesn’t please you. Please protect me so that it doesn’t dominate my mind.”

•  Make a conscious effort to replace it with positive thoughts: “I want to get angry about what this person just said, but I choose to forgive instead. I choose to uphold the good in him and to find a way to move forward peacefully.”

You don’t have to be subject to negative thoughts. Jesus has the power to set you free! 

from wau.org

Sleeping Jesus is still Sovereign Jesus

What sort of man is this? (Matthew 8:27)

You aren’t usually involved in what’s going on around you when you’re fast asleep. You don’t respond to questions, solve problems, or do physical activities—like bail out a boat. So it makes sense that the disciples thought Jesus was off duty and unaware of the tempest bearing down on them. What they found out, though, is that Jesus never stops being in control, even when he is asleep. It turned out that sleeping Jesus was still sovereign Jesus. 

The disciples hadn’t yet grasped that Jesus was Lord and God when they were caught up in the storm. But they received two insights that night: they saw that Jesus was always concerned for their well-being—even when he appeared to be dozing. And they learned that his power extended over the forces of nature.

After he calmed the storm, Jesus asked the disciples, “Why are you terrified?” (Matthew 8:26). In light of the power he had just shown them, his question makes sense. There was a lot more to Jesus than they knew, and they had just seen another glimpse of it. He showed them that they could trust him, that he could take care of them no matter what their situation. 

There is nothing Jesus can’t handle! His authority extends over angels, demons, the universe—and over human hearts, minds, and souls. This Jesus, who is Lord and God, cares for us. He cares for you. At times you may feel like Jesus is asleep in the boat. You may feel alone, without guidance or help. In difficult times like these, try to remember that Jesus is still Lord.

Here’s an idea for the next time you feel overwhelmed: try to stop and pray the Creed. Let this ancient prayer remind you about who Jesus is. Let it help you recall that he is “God from God, Light from Light,” and “seated at the right hand of the Father”—even if you don’t see him. Let it remind you that “for our salvation he came down from heaven,” and “for our sake he was crucified.” These are the stable, solid truths you can stand on when you’re in the middle of a storm. Always remember: sleeping Jesus is still sovereign Jesus. 

from wau.org

No Impossibility

Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do? (Genesis 18:14) 

Now that’s a good question! Is there a limit to what God can do? More important, is there a limit to what he will do in the lives of his people? Today’s readings—the stories of Abraham and Sarah, the Virgin Mary, and the Roman centurion—prove that nothing is “too marvelous” for God to do.

In the first reading, Sarah laughs when her angelic visitors promise that she will bear a child (Genesis 18:12). Can she really become a mother at her age? Instead of rejecting her for her unbelief, they simply repeat the promise—even when she denies that she has doubted. And sure enough, one year later, Sarah has a son, Isaac. God is not put off by lack of faith.

Next, in the Responsorial Psalm, we read Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Surely Mary has questions, but she fully embraces the angel’s words and becomes the Mother of God. Her hymn of praise links together God’s promise to her and his promise to Abraham and Sarah. God is faithful to his people through time.

Finally, the Gospel recounts the story of the Roman centurion. This pagan soldier reveals a level of faith that amazes even Jesus. When the centurion’s servant is healed, everyone is surprised. They thought that Jesus had come only for the Jewish people, but here he is offering healing and salvation to anyone who has faith. God extends his blessing to everyone.

 

Is anything too marvelous for the Lord? Clearly not. If God can work miracles in the lives of Sarah, the Virgin Mary, and the centurion, he can surely work in your life as well. He will always take care of you, even if you have doubts. He has always been with you, and he will never leave your side. No matter who you are, where you are, or what you have done, he can still work wonders! 

from wau.orgNi 

forgiveness

If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. (Matthew 6:14) 

Does this verse mean that God’s forgiveness is like a vending machine? You put in your forgiveness, and his mercy comes out? Well, no. It doesn’t work quite like that.

Jesus is explaining a fundamental principle about the way God forgives. It’s not that he withholds his mercy from us until we have forgiven everyone who has ever hurt us. He’s always offering it to us—we just can’t receive it! It’s as if we are holding an umbrella over our heads, and the rain of God’s forgiveness can’t touch us.

So yes, we must forgive those who sin against us if we want to know God’s forgiveness. But how do we do it?

It’s simple: by choosing. Forgiveness is not a feeling; it’s an act of the will. But sometimes—often, in fact—it doesn’t come easily. God knows that we can be tempted to stew in anger or seek revenge, and that’s why he is always ready to help us. Just as he received a man’s humble and imperfect statement of faith—“I do believe, help my unbelief!”—so too Jesus receives our halting efforts to forgive (Mark 9:24). He embraces them and makes them fruitful. It all begins when we pray, “Lord, I want to forgive; help my unforgiveness!” We may still feel the sting of the offense against us, but with God’s help, we can choose to let go of the grudge.

No one embodied this kind of mercy more than Jesus did. Wounded and bleeding on the cross, he chose to pray, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Our sin had caused his suffering; our disobedience had led to his own agony and crucifixion, yet he forgave us. His example tells us that the grace to forgive is available to everyone—even us! 

Today ask the Spirit to reveal someone you need to forgive. Then put down your umbrella of bitterness, and make the choice to extend mercy. Don’t worry if you still can’t let go of the hurt. Just ask the Lord to help your unforgiveness, and leave it at that for today. Then ask the same thing tomorrow and the next day and the next. As you do, God’s forgiveness will begin to flood your heart.

“Jesus, give me a merciful heart.” 

from wau.org

"God-confidence"

Our qualification comes from God. (2 Corinthians 3:5) 

Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan has the largest central span of any suspension bridge in the world. This elegant structure, which is held up by only two towers and a network of steel cables, can look dangerously fragile, but in reality it is incredibly strong. Although its supports seem so minimal, it can withstand 178 mph winds and earthquakes of up to 8.5 magnitude. Imagine the engineering genius that went into the making of this bridge! 

Did you know that you are the result of an even more wondrous feat of engineering? In today’s first reading, St. Paul calls our attention to the incredible structure that God has been building in our lives. Everything that we are, everything that we do, all the forces that we withstand—it all gives evidence of how carefully God has crafted our foundation. Like a master builder, he has laid this foundation with great precision and fortified it with his own divine grace. What a marvel you are!

Here’s even more marvelous news: God isn’t done building you! Through the grace of his sacraments, he continues to make you stronger and steadier. Day after day, he infuses you with the gifts of his Holy Spirit so that you can withstand any gale force winds that might come against you. Through the witness and encouragement of other brothers and sisters in Christ, he continues to teach you how to adapt to the pressures of temptation without snapping or crumbling.

Take some time today to stand back and admire God’s handiwork. You are a marvel! You are far stronger than you think, far more flexible than you think, and far more capable than you think. You have “the strength for everything” in Christ, who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13)! So try not to give in to fear when you face challenges today. Instead, stand firm on the foundation God has poured for you. Pray for the situation, not in “self-confidence,” but “God-confidence.”

Remember, God has given you the perfect structure for the job he has assigned you to do. Christ is with you, he is in you, and he is more than able to work through you. 

“Lord, thank you for all you have built in me. Give me confidence to use your gifts.”

from wau.org

Godly encouragement

The God of all encouragement . . . (2 Corinthians 1:3)

Experts tell us that for every negative comment we hear, it takes five positive comments to balance it out. That means it’s much easier to get discouraged than to feel encouraged. Perhaps that’s why Paul uses the word “encourage” or “encouragement” ten times in this letter. Maybe he wanted the Corinthians—and us—to know God’s love more deeply. 

The Gospels give us lots of examples of Jesus encouraging people.

When a scribe asked Jesus which commandment was the greatest, he replied, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). Imagine how good that scribe must have felt!

When Peter professed him as the Christ, Jesus answered, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah” (Matthew 16:17). Think of how that must have reinforced Peter’s conviction and his desire to keep following Jesus. 

When confronted with a woman caught in adultery, Jesus told her, “Neither do I condemn you” (John 8:11). Imagine how these words must have strengthened her to go and “not sin any more” (8:11)!

The encouragement didn’t stop when Jesus returned to his Father. He promised to send the Holy Spirit as “another Advocate” (John 14:16). And can you guess which word is used for “advocate”? Parakletos, which comes from the same Greek word for encouragement that Paul uses in today’s first reading! 

Part of the reason Paul stressed the Holy Spirit’s role as encourager was that he was writing to Christians undergoing hardship. He wanted them to know that the Holy Spirit would help them find hope and stay close to the Lord even through trials. He wanted to tell them that the Spirit could teach them through their trials so that they could walk alongside other people and offer them the same encouragement. 

The Holy Spirit wants to encourage you as well. When you’re feeling down on yourself, he will help lift your spirits. When you wonder whether your efforts are bearing fruit, he will show you how much you’ve grown. And when things are going well, he is with you, encouraging you to keep up the good work.

God is on your side. He is always at work, offering you his encouragement.

“Holy Spirit, how do you want to encourage me today?”

from wau.org