In What Do We Believe?

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 3:30 pm Post subject: In What Do We Believe?

In What Do We Believe?

Scripture:

And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles and in the communication of the breaking of bread and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul. Many wonders also and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem: and there was great fervor in all. And all they that believed were together and had all things common. Their possessions and goods they sold and divided them to all, according as every one had need. And continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart: Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.
(Acts 2:42-47)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead: Unto an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled and that cannot fade, reserved in heaven for you, who, by the power of God, are kept by faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you shall greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in diverse temptations: That the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now though you see him not, you believe and, believing, shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified; receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:3-9)

Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus comes, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: Peace be to you. Then he said to Thomas: Put in your finger hither and see my hands. And bring hither the hand and put it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing. Thomas answered and said to him: My Lord and my God. Jesus said to him: Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.
(John 20:19-31)

Reflection:

We did not live in the time. We did not witness from the foot of the cross. We were not there to see the lance thrust into His side, piercing His heart, opening a fount of Mercy for us; a font of purification to make souls righteous, a font of the blood poured out so we might receive eternal life.

We were not there to witness the fear and mourning of those who loved Him. We were not there to feel it in our own hearts. We can only imagine what was seen and what was felt. We only have the words of those who witnessed, or might there be more?

No, we did not live in the time, nor were we witnesses, but the voices of generations cry out to us. First, there are those He sent to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (cf. Matthew 28:19) Even they, who walked with Him, were filled with doubt for a time, but they could doubt no more as He came to them and ate with them. (cf. Luke 24:36-42) As He greeted them with peace, they could not ignore what He had taught them and what He poured into them. And so they went forth to spread the good news of what they witnessed and what they were taught.

As the good news of the Gospel spread from heart to heart, some received it, others were curious, others ignored it, and sadly, others became hostile to it. As the generations continued, the hearts of saints and martyrs were filled with His love. As they began to comprehend the ways He worked within their lives, they lifted their voices to rejoice, to share, and to teach. No matter the trial, no matter the tribulation, they trusted in to what He called them.

There are so many ways He tries to speak to us and touch us, but too many listen with the wrong ears and look with the wrong eyes, for it is our heart which He seeks to reach. Blessed are those who hear Him within, for He will guide them to the blessings of love and all which is right and just, but what if we do not feel that we hear His silent whisper to our hearts? What are we to believe about what we did not witness? How are we to know?

Thomas knew in the moment he saw His Lord, but doubted before his eyes were filled with his Teacher. Thomas professed he would not believe what others had seen until he, himself, could put his fingers in the wounds of the One Crucified. (cf. John 24-29) As his Teacher stood before him and as Thomas placed his fingers in the wounds of his Savior, Thomas exclaimed, ?My Lord and my God.? ( John 20:28 )

With the noise and fog of the world, so few hear, so few see. Their hearts are distracted with worldly pursuits and fads of the day. Their outrage flows over things which mean little and their selfishness blinds them and deafens them to what the blessings of love brings. They do not believe in the One who is true, so, they wander the darkness. As they do, the evil one smiles and stirs more the noise and the fog.

No, we were not there, but that does not mean He does not try to reach us. Some will arrogantly rise and demand they be given worldly proof, but as the Creator of the world, perhaps He asks, can you not see the forest for the trees? (cf. Matthew 16:1-4, Luke 12:54-56) Can we not see the blessings He brings and the wonderful ways He works in our lives? Can we not feel the ways He works to nudge us to walk the path of His love? Can we not see the ways He calls us to what is right and just?

So, the moment came to Thomas, where he professed he would not believe unless he felt the wounds with his fingers, but it is not our fingers by which our Lord desires we should feel, it is our hearts. He calls our heart to His; His Sacred Heart, His Sacred Heart of Mercy, His Sacred Heart of Love; a Heart which burns with the desire to receive us with forgiveness, so He may purify us with His love, so we may come and walk forever within His kingdom, where love is shared by all, there is no pain or affliction, and evil is not allowed to follow.

So, the questions remain for our day, for us; do we believe in the only begotten Son of God? (cf. John 3:16-21) Do we believe He died for our sins? Do we believe that by His sacrifice, we may be forgiven our sins? Do we believe that as He took our sins on His shoulders, that we may be cleansed and purified? Do we believe that as He conquered death, we have the opportunity to follow Him to eternal life in His kingdom? Do we believe that if we approach Him with a contrite heart, that we may receive His forgiveness? Do we believe in His love? Do we believe in His Divine Mercy? Do we love Him? These questions are passed to us through the generations. We must discern the answers from our intellect and what our senses reveal, but we must not neglect the senses of the heart. If today we should hear His voice, let us not harden our hearts. (cf. Psalms 95:7-8, John 10:27)

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways do we seek to live the teachings of our Lord?

With whose assistance do we seek to navigate our trials and tribulations?

In what ways do we demonstrate our belief in His power and Divine Mercy?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier