Faith Manifesto

This month marks the beginning of the Year of Faith. It has gotten me thinking; do I really have faith? If I lived at the time of Jesus, would I really touch Him? Approach Him and talk to Him with faith?

I came across an interesting footnote to Luke 23:6-12 (The New American Bible, 1987), when Jesus is before Herod. It says,

“The appearance of Jesus before Herod is found only in this gospel. Herod has been an important figure in Lk (9,7-9; 13,31-33) and has been presented as someone who has been curious about Jesus for a long time. His curiosity goes unrewarded. It is faith in Jesus, not curiosity, that is rewarded (7,50; 8,48.50; 17,19).”

Do I really believe? Or am I just curious, like Herod?

picture source
 
 Do I really believe?
  • That no fear or darkness can trump hope?
  • That I will see online casino bigger and better things?
  • That everything is in God’s hands and He is triumphant?
  • That everything is redeemable?
  • That Jesus can cure me, along with my family members and friends?
  • That my circumstances are IDEAL?
  • That God cares  more than I do about that person who seems like a lost cause?
  • That someone so “weak” can be the Messiah?
  • That God is stronger than the weakness in myself and others?
  • That such great and wondrous things can be entrusted to me, and to all mankind?
  • That problems are”t really between myself and “that really annoying person,” it’s between me and God?
  • That what is going on inside me (growth, communion with God, virtue) is more important than what’s going on outside of me (trials, etc.)
  • That death has been conquered?
  • That “neither the present nor the future will be able to separate us from the love of God” (Rm 8:38-39)?

Let us all pray for the gift of Faith, not just curiosity, this year.

“Why are you terrified? Do you not have faith?” Mark 4:40

“I do believe, help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24

Julie Machado

Julie Machado

Julie Machado is a 30-year-old wife, mother and Portuguese-American who grew up in California, but moved to Portugal for college and has been there ever since. She has a degree in Theology from the Catholic University of Lisbon and has special interest in Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. She blogs at Marta, Julie e Maria.

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