Miracles and More Miracles, Faith over Fear…
Why am I fearful?
What is there to be afraid of when I see myself from the inside-out and the world as it is?
Faith over fear permeates this part of Matthew’s Gospel.
The centurion’s faith. “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” “Take courage, daughter; and thy faith has saved thee.” “Let it be done to you according to your faith.”
Miracles and more miracles will happen if we believe
Christ heals the centurion’s servant; Peter’s mother-in-law and devils are expelled.
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she rose and began to wait on them.
“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”
Christ raises the ruler’s daughter to life.
But why do bad things happen to good people in this world today?
Why does God allow evil to triumph even in the tragic and innocent death of a child?
I don’t know the answers to these questions.
I do know that good always comes out of tragic situations if a wider perspective is taken. The September 11 tragedy united the world against terrorism. The innocent death of a young child with cancer who bravely utilizes compassionate drugs to advance technology in hopes of other who follow will suffer less and live longer until a cure becomes a reality.
“Why are you so peaceful, joyous and free, O you of great faith?”
Day 8: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Miracles and More Miracles, Faith over Fear…
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Matthew Chapters X-XX.
Bible Notes:
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
Saint Matthew, also known as Levi, was a Galilean by birth.
Tax Collector at Capharnaum
Christ called him to become a disciple, and later an Apostle
After the Holy Ghost came down on the Apostles on Pentecost, Matthew preached the Gospel in Judea.
He wrote his Gospel to prove to his readers that Christ was the Messiah foretold by God in the Old Testament
Matthew Chapter 8: A leper; The centurion’s faith; Christ heals his servant; Peter’s mother-in-law; Other miracles; Sacrifice to follow Jesus; The storm on the lake; Expulsion of the devils in Gerasa.
“Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
“…and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a witness to them.”
…but only say the word and my servant will be healed.
“Go thy way; as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee.”
And the servant was healed in that hour.
And He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she rose and began to wait on them.
Isaias the prophet: “He himself took up our infirmities, and bore the burden of our life.”
“The foxes have dens, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
“Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”
“What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
They entreated him to depart from their district.
Matthew Chapter 9: A paralytic at Capharnaum; The call of Matthew; The question of fasting; The ruler asks Christ to raise his daughter; The woman with a hemorrhage; Christ raises the ruler’s daughter to life; Two blind men; A dumb demoniac; The mission of the Apostles.
“Take courage, son, thy sins are forgiven thee.”
This man blasphemes (speak irreverently about God or sacred things).
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.”
“Follow Me.”
Why does your master eat with publicans and sinners?
“I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, For I have come to call sinners, not the just.”
My daughter has just now died; but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she will return to life.
“Take courage, daughter; and thy faith has saved thee.”
“Begone, the girl is asleep, not dead.”
“Let it be done to you according to your faith.”
By the prince of devils he casts out devils.
“The harvest indeed is great; but the laborers are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into his harvest.”
Speak Your Mind