Our Story Continues....They Came to Believe

Our story continues.......
 
We know that the Bible is God's personal revelation and guide for each of us. Through it we learn that we were created by him and that we exist out of Divine love.
 
At each Lent, I  work at pulling a theme out of the five weeks of Mass readings, especially in the Gospels. 
 
This year the theme that has been placed in my heart is the phrase: "They began to believe" Let me share a few thoughts with you on this, if you don’t mind.
 
Allow me to provide the passages found in the Gospels from the March 1 - March 29.
 
Mt. 4:1-11 The temptations of Jesus: Here the devil knew Jesus, knew he was God. Yet Satan tempted Jesus to turn away from his heavenly Father. Remember Satan (Lucifer) is a fallen angel. Given the gift of infused knowledge from the beginning of his existence, he knew God but refused to serve. Satan was not alone in his fall. 1/3 of the angels fell with him. Believe this, the legions roam the world today working to counter belief in God and turn people away from God. Satan tempts us in many ways as well. He tempts us to doubt God’s goodness. Do you see this happening in our world?
 
Mt. 17:1-9 The Transfiguration: Here three apostles were given the gift of a glimmer of Jesus’ heavenly glory. The witnesses were Peter (who became the leader on which Jesus formed the Church), James (who became the leader of the Church in Jerusalem) and dear young John (who wrote the Amazing spiritual gospel at a very old age). Indeed, THEY came to believe, and yes, they experienced many difficulties in their believing. Who stayed with Jesus at the crucifixion? Of the apostles, his inner circle of friends…only John. Are we willing to be open to the struggles that do come with belief in God?
 
Jn. 4:5-42 The Samaritan village woman meeting Jesus at the town well: She encountered Him and His words and believed. The towns people, listened to her, but more so listened to Jesus and "many more began to believe in him." V41. These Samaritan who were shunned by Jews were reached out to by Jesus and believed.  Who do we actively reach out to when we share the Gospel? Those that are shunned? Or only those that we are comfortable with?
 
Jn. 9:1-41 The man cured of blindness: The blind man was challenged harshly by the skeptics.  But, his personal response to Jesus question of ' believing ' was ... " Lord, I believe." V38. He understood deep in his soul that Jesus is God, the Savior. How do we respond to the skeptics in our life? Do we waiver in our belief when questioned? Or like the blind man return to the source of our faith for our reassurance?
 
Jn. 11:1-45 The death and raising of Lazarus: Lazarus was a close friend of Jesus. When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for three days. Scripture tells us that ‘Jesus wept’ for he loved his friend who had died. The mourners witnessed the power and love of Jesus when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and "They began to believe." V45.
 
These fortunate people in Jesus time witnessed events that transformed their lives... THEY BEGAN TO BELIEVE.
 
Today, we live in a fast and vast changing society fraught with secularism, moral relativism, those who don’t go to Church, and increasing doubts among some people.
 
What are we to do?
 
The Church does not exist to convince anyone... because it can't be done. Rather, the Church LIVES as an example of believing within daily living.
 
Within the Church, we learn of the life of Jesus, Emmanuel, come to live among us. We have the grace of the seven Sacraments. We experience the actions of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit who move among us in every second, every minute, every hour. Within the Church we have the early Church letters, the doctors of the Church,  the impacts of the Councils, and our clergy throughout the world..
 
Our question remains.... Where am I in responding to: "They began to believe?"
 
Our story continues.... God blesses us,
 
Deacon Timothy.