Do you know the power of faith?

 “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” (St. Augustine).

"Brothers and sisters: What more shall I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; they closed the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders.

"Women ­received back their dead through resurrection. Some were tortured and would not accept deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection.

"Others endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at sword’s point; they went about in skins of sheep or goats, needy, afflicted, tormented.

"The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth.

"Yet all these, though approved because of their faith, did not receive what had been promised. God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect."

Monday 30th January 2023 of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time.

We continue our reflection today on the first Reading: Hebrews 11: 32 - 40. God intended faith to deliver a nuclear-like power to those who believe.

"Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; they closed the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders."

The above paragraph is evidence of the power of faith. All the cited cases happened in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Mary by faith said Yes to become the Mother of God. Simon-Peter, Andrew, James and John left their occupation at once by faith and followed Jesus when Jesus said to them: "Come. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

In the Christian Era, Saints Paul, Timothy and Titus, Angela Merici, Thomas Aquinas, St John Bosco, etc, heard the call of Jesus Christ and left everything by faith and followed Jesus.

Brethren, without faith, one can not please God and one is condemned to accomplish little or nothing in life.

Faith is a supernatural gift of God. The easiest and most direct way of getting faith is to ask for it. God who is faithful and true promises: "Ask and you shall receive."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com