The faith in Jesus Christ makes us whole. |
Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of 8th Week in Ordinary Time II, May 30th, 2024
Texts: 1 Peter 2:2-5.9-12; Psalm 100:2-5; Mark 10:46-52
Jesus Christ, in today’s gospel reading, says, “Your faith has made you well." Which faith? It is the faith in Jesus Christ. This means the faith in Jesus Christ makes us whole. We cannot have faith in Jesus Christ and yet be unwholesome. Hence, St. Peter says, “Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God's sight chosen and precious”. Bartimaeus came to Him with faith and his faith made whole. Let us also come to Him in faith and be whole.
What does it mean to come to Jesus Christ in faith? It means looking up to Him as the only remedy to our predicaments. It means believing in Him as the only way to salvation. Bartimaeus showed this in not keeping silent in spite of the people’s suppression of him. We read, “And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’" He teaches us not to allow challenges suppress our faith.
What a victory!
The question we need to ask ourselves today is this: Is my faith strong enough to make me whole? A faith that makes whole must be able to weather off whatever life throws at it. It is a faith that does not bow to challenges but always survive them. This is clear in the life of Bartimaeus. His faith, manifesting in his persistence, made Jesus said, “Call him.” The people said to him, "Take heart; rise, he is calling you." What a victory!
St. Peter exhorts us on what our ways of life should be. He says, “Beloved, I beg you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul. Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that in case they speak against you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”
Prayer
We thank You, God our Father, for the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ, strengthen our faith in Him; grant that our faith in Him may make us whole. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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