Breakfast with the Word Wednesday Third Week of Advent
There are times in life when we seem not to understand what God is doing. Sometimes this comes when we expect something from God and it does not come the way we want.
There are moments we pray and keep our faith strong and yet it looks as if the opposite is what we see. When we do not understand what God is doing, there is the temptation to lose our patience and even lose faith.
Hence it looks as if the promises of God are not real. This may be as a result of the experiences we are facing in actual life.
Many today lose their trust in God. Some even think He is not real. This may arise because what we see is different from what we prayed for or what we expected.
The truth is that when we do not understand God, the temptation to fall into doubt begins to creep in. Hence many stumble at this point.
In the Gospel
In the Gospel, John sends his disciples to Jesus to inquire if He is truly the Messiah or are they expecting another one. This question today seems strange because John has been the one announcing the coming of the Messiah.
This question is a reflection of someone who is in doubt. Jesus responds by pointing to His messianic works; teaching, healing, salvation, setting the captives free, making the blind to see etc which echo His messianic manifesto of Luke 4:18, quoted from Isaiah 61:1.
Pointing to His works also reflects what will begin to happen when the Messiah comes as was prophesied in Isaiah 35:5-6.
Possible Reasons for The Question
1. Many scholars have tried to verify the possible reasons for this question. Almost everyone knows that John was a mighty prophet. He would have certainly understood that Jesus is the Messiah but His questions reflect someone who exercises His feelings as a Human being.
2. Secondly, It is certain that at this time, John was languishing in prison. He knows that one of the functions of the Messiah as was quoted in Isaiah 61 is that He will set the prisoners free. But Jesus keeps silence at His ordeals. This could lead to depression and doubt because John was in prison and Jesus is yet to release Him.
3. Thirdly, John may be expecting that the Kingdom He had been announcing will come immediately but up till now, there was no sign of it. Maybe the approach Jesus takes was different from what John expected.
4. Finally, many at that time expected that the Messiah would deliver them from Roman domination. They expected a physical liberation. John may have been influenced also by this major belief of His time. He thus requests if they will wait for another.
The Moments of Our Doubt.
There are also times when we feel God is not doing what we want. Maybe we have prayed, fasted and even worked for it but we are yet to see any glimpse of God’s intervention.
There are truly moments we feel like doubting whether God exists or not. When we do not understand what God is doing in our lives, the resultant effect may be to lose faith.
Many today who have stopped praying and lost that fervour that distinguished them before is because of experiences like this.
Our moments of doubt may make us lose faith totally, worried, depressed and pose unlimited questions to Him especially when we do not understand what God is doing.
Reflection Wednesday Third Week of Advent
The truth is that God’s mysteriously does His works. So the best thing is to allow Him to do it the way He wants.
What to Do
In John 20:24-27, Jesus appears to Thomas after his doubt. He allowed Him to touch His wounds to strengthen His faith. Today, Jesus also points to His Messianic works to authenticate His divine personality. All these are to strengthen their faith in Him through the works He does.
So when we do not understand what God is doing for us and you are tempted to lose faith, remember the things He has been doing for you all these while.
There are things He is still doing for you even at that time of losing hope. Do not lose hope because God is not answering your prayer the way you want. If you are tempted to lose hope remember His love all these while.
Finally, today, Jesus blesses all who would not lose faith because of Him. In essence, never let what God is doing and not doing make us lose faith in Him. Our faith in God is not conditional and should not be determined by the things He does and not do. But like Paul and Silas, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, let us keep our faith strong even amid hardest affliction.
The message of today is simply to trust deeply in God even when you do not understand what He is doing. At last, you will.
May God bless you beloved and give us the grace to keep our faith strong in Him. May He never allow us to stumble. Amen.
You may read
When We lose the reverence for the Spiritual
When We lose the reverence for the Spiritual.
Behind the Opposite of We Want
Amen 🙏🙏🙏💯✅
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Thank you Padre
Thank you Lord for all you’ve been doing in my life,most especially for the gift of life.
Dear God do not allow me to stumble,keep my faith strong.
Amen Fr
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Amen. Jesus! I trust in You 🙏
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Lord increase my faith especially in moments of trails.
Amen. Infact, GOD IS GOD. I don’t really understand but I don’t need to, that is why HE IS GOD, I just wish HE prove and manifest HIS LOVE to us at the time of need which HE IS NOT OBLIGED TO. so you see HE IS IN CHARGE.
It can be really frustrating.
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Amen. Lord, May I never lose my trust in you no matter what may come my way. My life is always in your hands
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I need you seriously, Lord Jesus, in this moment of my life. Save me from despair and give me the grace to keep moving in faith. Amen
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Amen. I pray for the grace to always confide in God in everything. Amen.
Amen. oh God increase my Faith 🙏🙏
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Amen ….thanks for this brother. God increase your faith in Jesus name amen
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Amen. Oh Lord give me the grace to always believe in ur words.
Great piece…May God bless you too Amen.🙏
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Thanks for the encouraging words of God, I won’t lose faith in Him. God bless you
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Amen, remain blessed Bro. Good morning
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May He never allow me to stubble Amen
Thank u jesus for your word today …..may I continue to trust and have faith in you.Amen.
GOD Bless You To 🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍
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Amen!
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Amen! Thanks and God bless you too Fr.
Amen 👏.
Lord, the grace to persevere and trust in your power to rescue me from all troubles and trials of this life, I ask of you, now without end…. AMEN 👏.
Amen, God u are always faithful. We thank fr for this beautiful reflection. May almighty God continue to strengthen u in his vine yard in Jesus mighty name we pray Amen.
Amen! Thank you Jesus for feeding me today.
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Amen 🙏
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Amen o🙌
Amen 🙌
Amen 🙏.
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Amen thanks brother God bless you 🙏
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Faith RICHLYstrong in YOU LORD 🙏 AMEN 🙏
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Amen. This reflection is very topnotch. Thank you Father Sanctus and more ink to your pen 👍
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Amen Padre and God’s Divine wisdom and strength.
Amennnn
Amen. Please my God may i never fall even amidst all difficulties and challenges of life. In Jesus Name.
Amen.l believe in you Lord help my unbelief
Amen . God bless you Fr