Firm Belief

"Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, for your firm believing, that the promises of the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1: 45, Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

The angel of the Lord declared to Mary that she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God. Although, eye had never seen nor ear heard of such a thing, Mary believed firmly in God's promise. She knew that He who made the promise is faithful. It became done unto her according to her belief.

How do I emulate Mary's firm belief? What are God's promises to me here and now?

• The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23)
  
• If God is with me, who can be against me? (Romans 8: 31)
  
• God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. (Isaiah 12: 2-3)
  
• Yahweh will do the fighting for me. (Exodus 14: 14)
  
• "Fear is useless; what is needed is trust." (Luke 8:50)
  

Isaiah says that faith that is firm is also patient. Like Mary I believe that God who made the above promises is faithful. He is not a man to lie nor is His hand too short to perform. God accomplishes whatever He wills come what may.

Fountain of Salvation

"God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation …." (Isaiah 12: 2-3)

What is the fountain of salvation?

It is the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, Christ Jesus speaks to us through His word. We answer Him through our prayers. Then He offers us His flesh and His blood as food and drink.

The Church teaches that the Eucharist is the source, the center and the summit of our Christian life.

Emmanuel 2

"Yahweh your God is there with you, the warrior-savior. He will rejoice over you with happy song, as on a day of festival. I have taken away your misfortune, no longer need you bear the disgrace of it." (Zephaniah 3: 17)

This is a happy prophecy. I rejoice whenever I see the promise of "God is with you." I respond: "If God is with me, then it is accomplished." All is well if God is with me; all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.

In the Old Testament, one of the greatest blessings comes from the promise "God is with you." The incarnation of this promise is the very person of Jesus Christ, who is Emmanuel, "God with us." Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the one who stands at the door and knocks. He has promised to be with anybody who opens the door for Him and welcomes Him into His house.

Lord Jesus, come in! The house is yours!

The Holy Spirit and Inspiration

"Father, you inspired the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your Son to visit Elizabeth and assist her in her need. Keep us open to the working of your Spirit, and with Mary may we praise you forever…." (Mass Prayer)

The Holy Spirit inspired Mary to visit Elizabeth. God is the source of all inspiration and power.

How would you feel if the Holy Spirit were to inspire you today on what to do on your job and give you the courage to do it? You will succeed in everything you do today. The one thing I need, the one thing I pray for with tenacity is for inspiration and power. The best things I have done in my life have all come through inspirations.

Father, keep me open to the working of your Holy Spirit and grant that I may praise you forever with Mary.

Great things the Lord has done for me

"Come, all you who fear God, and hear the great things the Lord has done for me." (Psalm 66: 16)

What great things has the Lord done for me recently?

• The Eucharist
  
• Study of His word
  
• Two clients who renewed their annual contract
  

When I meet the Lord in prayer every Monday morning, I review the blessings of the past week. One constant blessing I thank Him week after week is the blessing of enjoying the weekend particularly Sunday. Sunday has become my favorite day of the week. I enjoy the full Sabbath rest. I have come to realize the wisdom and love of God in granting us the Sabbath rest. The Sabbath rest is for me a time of physical, mental and spiritual renewal. It is amazing how much inspiration I receive for my job on Sundays. The mind is relaxed and the strength of the mind seems to come to full power when it is relaxed and under no pressure of time and space.

The Egyptians

"Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still." (Exodus 14: 13-14)

About fifteen years ago, I was in deep crisis with regard to my job and my future. I was in a hotel room and I could not sleep. I took up the Bible on the night stand, flipped it open and it fell on the above passage. I read it and was gripped by the message. I saw clearly my dire circumstances as the "Egyptians." I believed what I read. The "Egyptians" could be overcome with the help of God. I prayed and my conviction increased that God could help me to overcome the Egyptians. The critical moment of test arrived and God helped me to overcome the "Egyptians."

Since then, I had learned that prayer is the efficient cause for answer to our needs. I have also learned what faith means. It is the conviction that what God says is true. And growth in faith? It is the deepening of the conviction through experience that as God had acted previously in a crisis, He could act similarly in the present emergency.

Prayer is the efficient cause of answer

"Lord God, we worship you, a Trinity of Persons, one eternal God. May our faith and the sacrament we receive bring us health of mind and body." (Mass Prayer)

Faith is the efficient cause of access to God's promises of:

• Peace
  
• Provision
  
• Protection
  
• Power
  
• Purpose
  
• Pardon
  

This is because God is the first cause of all things. Prayer is the efficient cause of answer which comes in form of the above blessings. Prayer and answer form a loop in the divine plan of communication. When you prayer, expect an answer. I am often irked that some people send me an email without checking back for the reply. What do they expect? No reply?