“Translating our ‘faith into living actions of trust!’”

(Based on Jas 1:12-18 and Mk 8:14-21 – Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time)

This familiar story is known to many of us, in various forms.

A young boy traveling by airplane to visit his grandparents had beside him a man…
… who was a professor in a prestigious university.

The boy was reading the Bible and the professor – who was not a very ardent believer in God – thought he would have some fun with the lad.

“Young man,” said the professor, “if you can tell me something God can do, I will give you a big, shiny apple.”

The boy thought for a moment and then replied, “Well Sir! I have a better proposal for you!

If you can tell me something God cannot do…
… I’ll give you a whole barrel of apples!”

So often, it happens in our life, that we fail to understand the Power and Presence of God!

Even though theoretically we know that God is with us…
… we often, fail to translate that “faith into living actions of trust!”

The Gospel of the Day presents an experience of the disciples…
… an experience of not “feeling the closeness of the Power of Jesus,” despite the fact that He was with them
… an experience of “feeling lost and uncomfortable” on facing an unfamiliar situation.

The disciples had embarked on a journey with the Lord.

They had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf.

During the journey, the Lord cautioned them on the “yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod…” (Mk 8:15)

This was in reference to the “insincere and phoney” attitude that the Pharisees and Herodians were exhibiting to Jesus and His ministry.

The disciples, however totally misunderstood these words of the Lord.

They thought that the Lord was scolding them for taking less bread on the way.

The reference to the “yeast” in the context of the “lack of bread during the journey”…
… made the disciples to conclude this way: “They said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’” (Mk 8:16)

But the Lord strongly reminds them to become aware of “His Presence” with them!

He chided the disciples – asking them to make a shift from temporal aspects to the eternal dimensions of life!

He strongly urged them to recognise His Divine Presence – especially through the manifestations of glory that He had displayed in the many great works!

The Gospel passage ends with a very pertinent question: “Do you not yet understand?” (Mk 8:21)

The disciples…
… had heard a good number of Divine exhortations and sermons
… had seen many people having a transformative experience
… had witnessed a great number of miraculous deeds

Yet, their eyes were closed… and they failed to recognise the Mighty Presence of the Lord with them..
… being occupied only by the “lack of bread”

All of us, like the disciples, travelling in the boat of our lives are put forth this question: “Are you only focussing yourselves on the lack of earthly bread…
… or do you recognize and understand that the Bread of Life Himself – the Source of all Goodness – is with you in the boat of your life?”

Do I seek JESUS ABOVE ALL?

Is my life of faith only dependant on “familiar situations” and “moments of comfort”…
… to feel that God is near me?

Do I feel very uncomfortable and lost spiritually, when things seem too alien or situations seem to be too unfamiliar?

Let us realise and understand that even when things seem too alien or situations seem to be too unfamiliar…
… God with His Power, is close to me!

Theoretically, of course, we do know that God is with us…
… Let us seek to translate this “faith into living actions of trust!”

Let us fill…
… the apparent emptiness of our lives with the Love and Spirit of the Lord.
… the seeming vacuum within us, with the Peace and Passion for the Lord.

God bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
DEATH

Death is the end of earthly life.
Our lives are measured by time, in the course of which we change, grow old and, as with all living beings on earth, death seems like the normal end of life.
That aspect of death lends urgency to our lives: remembering our mortality helps us realize that we have only a limited time in which to bring our lives to fulfilment: Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth… before the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it
Death is a consequence of sin.
The Church’s Magisterium, as authentic interpreter of the affirmations of Scripture and Tradition, teaches that death entered the world on account of man’s sin.
Even though man’s nature is mortal God had destined him not to die.
Death was therefore contrary to the plans of God the Creator and entered the world as a consequence of sin.

“Bodily death, from which man would have been immune had he not sinned” is thus “the last enemy” of man left to be conquered. (CCC # 1007-1008)