“Staying calm and happy by having ‘a simple and a little faith,’ in the Great and Big God!”

(Based on Isa 65:17-21 and Jn 4:43-53 – Monday of the 4th Week in Lent)

There was once a good woman who was well-known among her circle for her simple faith and her great calmness in the midst of many trials.

Another woman, living across the street, hearing of her, said, “I must go and see that woman, and learn the secret of her calm, happy life.”

She went, and, enquired the woman: “Are you the woman with the great faith?”

“No,” was the answer!

“I am not the woman with the great faith, but I am the woman with a little faith in the great God,” came the rest of the answer!

Yes, the secret of “staying calm and happy” is about having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

The Gospel of the Day presents an incident of a “person who stayed calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

Jesus is in the land of Galilee… away from his hometown. (Jn 4:43)

In this Gentile land, a royal official whose son was ill – nearing death – approached Jesus, seeking for a healing.

He travelled a far distance – nearly 25 miles, from Capernaum to Galilee – and coming to Jesus, he asked, “Sir, come down, before my child dies” (Jn 4: 49)

This royal official had a mixed bag of faith…

He had faith in Jesus, which made him to come a long distance to meet Jesus.
… his faith was however, mostly prompted only because of a need for a healing.

Often our faith resembles this royal official…
… turning to the Lord only in times of afflictions and troubles
… having our own doubts on whether the Lord can really work miracle in the way I want

But we must also remember…
… hard and difficult situations, are willed by God, to allow for miracles and healings, which ought to become the springboard for a deeper and committed life of faith!
… the Lord has His own ways and means of working powerfully in our lives, and we need to have the openness and humility to receive them in His way and in His time!

When the Lord gave His word, “You may go; your son will live” (Jn 4:50), this royal official, with a mixed bag of faith…
… began to understand the secret of “staying calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

The Gospel says, “… the man believed what Jesus said to him and left” (Jn 4: 50b)

Moments of immense difficulties and crisis often cripple us.
Times of tremendous hardships and pains often cause worries to us.
But, the Lord constantly invites us “to stay calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

It’s His grace that strengthens us.
It’s His mercy that empowers us.

Shall we also adopt and personalize this great secret…
… of “staying calm and happy” by having “a simple and a little faith, in the Great and Big God!”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE LITURGY – WORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY – The Father-Source and Goal of the Liturgy

From the beginning until the end of time the whole of God’s work is a blessing.
From the liturgical poem of the first creation to the canticles of the heavenly Jerusalem, the inspired authors proclaim the plan of salvation as one vast divine blessing.
From the very beginning God blessed all living beings, especially man and woman.
The covenant with Noah and with all living things renewed this blessing of fruitfulness despite man’s sin which had brought a curse on the ground.
But with Abraham, the divine blessing entered into human history which was moving toward death, to redirect it toward life, toward its source.
By the faith of “the father of all believers,” who embraced the blessing, the history of salvation is inaugurated.
The divine blessings were made manifest in astonishing and saving events: the birth of Isaac, the escape from Egypt (Passover and Exodus), the gift of the promised land, the election of David, the presence of God in the Temple, the purifying exile, and return of a “small remnant.”

The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, interwoven in the liturgy of the Chosen People, recall these divine blessings and at the same time respond to them with blessings of praise and thanksgiving. (CCC # 1072)