The low feeling I had this morning was curtailed by the powerful voice of the Christian musical group Kutlass singing "That's What Faith Can Do." Just when I was about to let the devil have a sliver of hope, God sent me an angel with a clear message. Every word in that song was what I needed to hear. My God is an awesome God. He is ever present and I am so glad that I have an ongoing, growing, loving relationship with Him. Back to the message from God's angels. Kutlass sings "Anyone can feel the ache. You think it’s more than you can take but you are stronger, stronger than you know. Don’t you give up now." Okay, so maybe this speaks to everyone but that is just the point. This morning I felt alone and was thinking why is this happening to me? Kutlass continues, "I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains, hope that doesn’t ever end, even when the sky is falling." The very essence of faith is what they are talking about here. Do you really think that God can move that mountain? Do you have an everlasting hope even when there are earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and massive snow storms? Back to the music, "I’ve seen miracles just happen. Silent prayers get answered. Broken hearts become brand new. That’s what faith can do." Indeed! How often have you muttered a prayer under your breath? Did you even realize when it was answered? Did you thank God? I frequently find myself celebrating the answer and then suddenly remember where it came from. God doesn't need to be thanked or even expect it but we are called to be a grateful people. Again, it is a realization that God is active in every aspect of our lives. Kutlass sings a little later in the song, "Overcome the odds, you don't have a chance. When the world says you can’t, it’ll tell you that you can!" That is the most comforting sound we can ever hope to hear. God's voice, in whatever form, telling us that we can do it. He will be there to help us. His hand is upon us. Even when the economy has crashed, folks are losing their jobs, their retirement accounts are gone and they are about to lose their house, faith can change all of that. A miracle can happen. Are you asking for one right now? Are you giving it to God unconditionally? I struggle with this just as you do. We have to train our spiritual self to trust and have faith. Like the saints before us, we need to believe that our prayers will be answered. I am praying right now for a miracle. I hope you get yours too.
The spiritual climax of the Gospel of John, as Father John Waiss points out, occurs at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus utters his parting words: “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27). While these words were addressed to the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the Church has long understood this moment as a universal adoption. To truly image Christ, we must share in His parentage; if we embrace God as our spiritual Father but reject Mary as our mother, we treat Christ as a half-brother rather than our "firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29). As Origen noted as early as the third century, the profound depths of the Gospel are only accessible to those who, like John, rest their heads on Jesus’ breast and receive Mary into their own homes. This maternal role is deeply rooted in biblical typology, positioning Mary as the fulfillment of the great mothers of the Old Covenant. She is the New Eve , the mother of all the living according ...
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