Faith means trusting in Him whom we do not see and He who also grants us grace and blessings in our everyday life experiences. Photo from the Lifestyle Section, InterAksyon.com.
Jesus then crossed to the other side of the lake, and while he was still on the shore, a large crowd gathered around him. Jairus, an official of the synagogue, came up and seeing Jesus, threw himself at his feet, and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may get well and live.” Jesus went with him, and many people followed, pressing from every side. While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from the official’s house to inform him, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Master any further?” But Jesus ignored what they said, and told the official, “Do not fear, just believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house, Jesus saw a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. Jesus entered and said to them, “why all this commotion and weeping?” “The child is not dead, but asleep.” They laughed at him. So Jesus sent them outside, and went with the child’s father and mother and his companions into the room, where the child lay. Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha kumi!” which means, “Little girl, get up!” The girl got up at once and began to walk around. (She was twelve years old.) The parents were amazed, greatly amazed. Jesus strictly ordered them not to let anyone know about it; and he told them to give something to eat. —Mark 5:21-24, 35b-43
A “self- confessed non- believer” one time approached me and asked, “Why do you believe in something that you do not see?” He asked from the point of view of the sense of vision—seeing. Then, I asked him in return, “Why do you ask God if you feel Him.”
Why do we believe in God even if we don’t see God? Why? Is it really a requisite to faith that we should see God first? Do we really need to see God before we can believe in him? Is it only through seeing that a proof of God’s existence can be established? How about the other senses? Can we hear God or taste God? Can we feel or smell God? Is the question of God should be proven through rational, mathematical, scientific, physical proofs? How about the metaphysical and spiritual realms of the world and the complexities of the entire creation? Can science explain everything?
We have to remember that our God is the God of those seen and unseen. He is the God of all creation, and that means all creation. And for those who recognize and believe in Him, God is always present in the daily events and occurrences in our lives; in the people we meet and encounter; in our good and not so good experiences.
In the Gospel account, Jairus, the temple official came to see Jesus and begged him to heal his ailing daughter. This is very unlikely for an official of a synagogue to ask for help from Jesus who was at that time still not liked by most all the temple officials. Jesus’ identity was still being questioned and even maligned by others. But Jairus, not minding what the others would say, came to Jesus and asked him to come to his house as his daughter is ill and near to a point of death. This is not easy for Jairus, but with firm faith and full trust in Jesus, he did ask him. He asked Jesus to heal her so that she gets well and live. And Jesus went to Jairus’ house and signified his willingness to heal his sick daughter.
Are we like Jairus who go to Jesus for healing? It is good to ask ourselves about our relationship with God and our faith in Him. Are we enjoying life and do we continue living because of God’s grace or because only by our own will and our great efforts to live life? Do we seek God and pray only and during the times when we need Him most?
Along the way to Jairus’ house, some people had told him that his daughter is already dead. But Jesus assured him, “Do not fear, just believe.” Jairus had full trust that Jesus will make her well. Are we like Jairus who kept on believing and kept the faith?
In the retreat of our school personnel of the Agusan Carmelite schools that was just held recently at the Our Lady of Peace Abbey of the Benedictine Nuns of the Eucharistic King in Cogon, Digos City, Davao del Sur, I talked to some of the participants and a few of them shared with me parcels of their life experiences. One teacher told me that he always trusts in God and relies so much in Him. Every time he prays, he calls on God whom he does not see and yet he is very sure that God listens to him. Wow, what a faith!
A few teachers and non-teaching staff also shared that they need healing not only from physical suffering but healing from emotional pains and the spiritual dryness they’re experience. And they call on God, continue thanking God, and submitting to the will of God. They call this total surrender to the will of God. Complete trust in God indeed. The very words of Jesus to Jairus, “Do not fear, just believe.” But these are not just words said by Jesus, he fulfilled what he said, and the girl was healed, became well and alive. So are we if we only believe in Him.
Prayer: Loving God, grant us the gift of faith; of believing and trusting you at all times. That we put all our trust in You and in You alone in times when we are in doubt and confused. Give us the clarity of mind and guide us in our discernment so that we will take the right and correct way towards you. Lord, I will not fear, I fully believe in you and in you alone. Amen.
