Date: April 2, 2020 ()

Bible Text: First Reading: GN 17:3-9; Gospel Reading JN 8:51-59 |

Series:

Let us believe like Abraham, let us pray like the saints.

We notice these past days, we are following the gospel stories where Jesus speaks of Himself as the I AM. We know how important this word is, as I AM refers to God Himself.

There’s a common goal for which these stories are meant. It is to bring people ultimately to faith. But before the characters have finally come to faith, we see a real struggle. Two possible outcomes are expected: whether they accept Jesus or throw Him away.

But for us who are reading this story, we may say how ridiculously blind those people were for not having understood Jesus. Only people who have faith can readily accept the plans of God not because they already saw exactly what the game plan was all about, but because they simply trusted Him. Like Abraham who must have struggled to understand how he could be a father of nations when he could hardly even bear a child but he trusted God nonetheless.

We’re lucky! Jesus has made it easy for us now. And that’s precisely the intention of the revelation, that we may see it clearly and believe. However, if Jesus were to come and examine our hearts, would he find faith? I bet, despite the clarity of the gospel, many still have doubts. And where do these doubts come from? Most of the time, they come from us who cannot wait; from us who rather want things to happen according to our own ways and timing; from us who refuse to reflect and understand the message that God wants to communicate to us in every single circumstance.

The patriarchs, the judges and the great kings of Israel, the prophets, the apostles, and the saints became great models of faith simply because they waited; they allowed God to unfold His plan, they followed God’s instruction and tried to understand the Wisdom behind every difficult situation.

Today, we honor St. Francis of Paula, in Calabria, Italy. St. Francis founded the Minims Order which literally means “the Least” Brothers. They are Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi who dwelt in small houses and endeavored to live a more austere and humble life. Known to many as the Padre Pio of his time, the holiness of St. Francis found favor with God so that he was also able to perform numerous miracles. Today, more than ever, we need miracles and God’s intervention. Let us believe like Abraham, let us pray like the saints.