One of the effects of our
modern way of thinking is that we have stopped believing in miracles. There are
many reasons for this. One of these is that today more than ever, we are able
to find rational explanations for most of the happenings in our world. Also, we
live in an age where at a click of a button we can find answers to most of our
questions and so are able to explain how things work and why they do not work. Yet
another reason is that because we have become too rational our faith has become
weaker. We prefer to first see and then believe. We are unwilling to believe in
order that we might see.
The readings of today,
however, want to take us beyond the rational, empirical and tangible to the
realm of faith, trust and belief. It is through the prophetic word of the
prophet Elijah that God gives life to the dead. The God of Elijah is truly the
Lord of life, for even one who has already died could be brought to life again
by God’s power. However, as is evident in the Gospel text of today, Jesus is
greater than Elijah and is the bringer of new life. Unlike Elijah who has to
appeal to God to raise the dead boy to life, Jesus himself commands the dead
boy to rise and gives him back to his widowed mother.
Even as we read and reflect
on these miracles, a number of questions come to mind. Does God intervene in
the normal running of the universe? Is God partial when God grants favours to
some and not others? Why does God not intervene and right all wrongs and bring
about justice and peace in our world?
God can and does intervene
at different times. Instances of these interventions are seen in the first
reading and Gospel text of today. However, God does not intervene every time we
have problems or challenges, just as a loving parent does not intervene every
time the child falls and hurts itself or takes a path that will lead to
suffering. This is because God respects human freedom too much to constantly
interfere. God wants us to grow and learn from our own mistakes. God does not
intervene and right all wrongs because that would mean imposing God’s will on
humans and forcing them to accept it. Yet, we sometimes get angry with God for
not intervening when we are faced with challenges, when a loved one dies of
sickness or when marital and family disputes arise. We tend to lose faith at
these times and even rebel against God.
Paul tried to rebel against
God as is made abundantly clear in the second reading of today. However, even as
rebelled, he was being transformed and converted. He was being renewed. This
renewal led to his preaching the good news of God. The Good news is this that God is a God of
mercy, compassion and life. The God revealed in Jesus wants that all have the
gift of abundant life, life in all its fullness.
The message of the readings then
is that no matter how bleak a situation might seem, no matter how difficult an
obstacle might appear and no matter how depressing the present is, God is still
very much with us. When Jesus was in Gethsemane, he could not see the face of
God as clearly as he would have liked and could not hear the voice of God as
audibly as he would have liked. Yet, he continued to have faith and knew in his
heart that whatever was to happen would be for the best. He trusted in God and
carried his cross with courage, strength and hope. His faith was rewarded and
he was indeed raised to life, never to die again.
Thus, when we are faced with
challenging situations, when we are faced with death like situations, the call
is to dare to believe that God will see us through. The God who raised the
Sidonian woman’s son through Elijah, and raised the son of the widow of Nain in
Jesus and the God who raised Jesus from the dead will walk with us every step of
the way. We need even in this modern day and age to believe first in order to
see.
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