If You Believe, You Belong

Tuesday 2nd May 2023. Read Acts 11:19-26, Ps. 87, John 10:22-30

“The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.” (John 10:25-26)

The book of Hebrews defines faith as the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). This means that faith requires personal conviction and one’s own willpower. God does not force us to believe in Him but He rewards us when we express our faith in Him.

Jesus was fond of saying to those he cured: “Your faith has made you well.” In other words, “you also cooperated in your healing by believing.” In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says to those who were doubting Him: “You do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep.” That is to say: “If you were truly part of my sheep, you will not doubt that I am the Christ.”

The Jews saw all that Jesus did but it seemed as though nothing could convince them that Jesus is God. In John 19:6-8, we read: “Pilate said to them, ‘… I find no crime in him. The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and by that law, he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of God’ When Pilate heard these words, he was the more afraid.”

When it comes to faith, we cannot pretend about it. It is either you belong to Christ or you do not belong. The fact that you attend a Church does not make you a Christian, it is what you believe that matters.

There are some so-called Christians who believe strongly in the power of the gods of African Traditional Religion. Some say that the Christian God is too slow, too lenient, and too forgiving so when they need things done quickly and effectively, they know where to go. If that is what you believe also, just know that you do not belong to Christ.

Meanwhile, there are some persons who do not go to Church but are strong believers in Christ. We might look at them as “sinners” but the truth is that some of them may be more qualified for heaven than many of us who pride ourselves as Christians. In today’s first reading, we read:

“Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord…. For a whole year, they met with the church and taught a large company of people, and in Antioch, the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” (Acts 11:19-26)

Does it even occur to you that it was among a Gentile community that persons were for the first time addressed as Christians? It is not about going to church. If you believe, you belong and if you believe in something else, you belong there.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, may my actions not betray my faith in you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saint Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor, Bible Study: Acts 11:19-26, Ps. 87, John 10:22-30).

@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu