Bible
Study: Deuteronomy 6:4-13. / Matthew 17:14-20.
Is it
possible to pray for something while at the same time having serious doubts in
your heart? Is it possible to be completely distracted in prayer? Is it
possible to sit down in Church with eyes focused on Jesus and yet with your
heart far far away ruminating among the mundane things of life? Is it possible to
be praying for somebody and yet not believe that the person would ever get
healed?
If any of
the above is possible, it simply shows the size of one’s faith. It also
explains why the disciples of Jesus could not cast out a demon from a little
boy while Jesus was away. “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you
will SAY to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, and it will move; and
nothing will be impossible to you.” Matthew 17:20.
All that
is required is to have a strong faith and speak with authority. Nowadays,
people try to cure demons by going beyond mere prayers, they beat, slap, kick,
flog and even pour water on the possessed person as though they were engaged in
a physical battle. Not quite long ago, a young man was killed in this town
right inside a church in the name of healing. So sad!
One way to
build your faith is the constant meditation on the word of God. As Moses
admonished this morning: “And these words which I command you this day shall be
upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children and shall
talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when
you lie down and when you rise…And you shall write them on the door posts of
your house and on your gates.” Dt.6:5-6.
The closer
you bring God’s word to your heart, the bigger your faith will be. This is because
the word of God is power, it is sharper than any two-edged sword. In the
beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. John 1:1.
Today we
celebrate the life of St. Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers. At a
time when the church was being swayed by the erroneous teaching of the
Albigensians, at a time when the lifestyles of the church ministers were so
extravagant such that the local people could not bring themselves to listen to their
wealthy priests anymore, Dominic decided to embrace poverty fully and went
about from place to place as an itinerant preacher. Dominic was so devoted to
our Mother Mary and he could say that the real victory over the Albigensian
heresy was won due to her intercession. It was St. Dominic who gave the church
the rosary as we have it today,
Let us
pray:
Lord
Jesus, I help me build my faith by keeping your word close to my heart and
through my devotion to your mother Mary just as St. Dominic did. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. Happy
Weekend.
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