Monday, April 20, 2009

Meditation for the second week after Easter

''Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed" (John 20: 29).

Thomas believed in Son of God only when he saw and touched Jesus' wounds. Therefore, Our Lord teaches us the faith of those who have not seen but believed is most pleasing to Him and brings many graces: ''Whom having not seen, you love: in whom also now, though you see him not, you believe: and believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified '' (1 Pet 1:8). This kind of faith grows and is cultivated in humble, child-like hearts happily surrendered to God: ''Believe that he was faithful who had promised '' (Heb 11:11). The more humble surrender the greater blessings received: ''blessed are they that have not see, and have believed ''. Faith like this converted the world and threw it at the feet of Jesus. Child-like surrender and faith cooperates with Divine Graces in the practice of virtues and holiness so illustrious in martyrs and saints: ''Who by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners'' (Heb 11:33). Charity depends on this kind of faith and gives real happiness to the soul: ''believing shall rejoice with joy unspeakable and glorified'' (1Pet 1:8). We need to remember how limited is our reasoning to comprehend God and His works. Long time ago, certain atheist asked doctor Pasteur, the famous French bacteriologist but also man of great faith and integrity, why being so highly educated he still believed in God. Dr Pasteur answered saying his faith grew steadily stronger along with his studies. His faith was exactly this kind of child-like surrender: '' Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. ''(Matt 18:3,4)