Monday, December 03, 2018
1st Week of Advent 1st Reading: Is 2:1-5
Gospel: Matthew 8:5-11
When Jesus entered Capernaum, an army captain approached him to ask his help, “Sir, my servant lies sick at home. He is paralyzed and suffers terribly.” Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
The captain answered, “I am not worthy to have you under my roof. Just give an order and my boy will be healed. For I myself, a junior officer, give orders to my soldiers. And if I say to one: ‘Go,’ he goes, and if I say to another: ‘Come,’ he comes, and to my servant: ‘Do this,’ he does it.”
When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those who were following him, “I tell you, I have not found such faith in Israel. I say to you, many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Faith in common parlance has three meanings. It can be understood as defined doctrine, providence, and daring access. Understood as defined doctrine, faith refers to the twelve articles of faith contained in the Apostles’ Creed. Understood as divine providence, faith firmly believes that as God takes care of the birds in the sky and the lilies of the field, he won’t abandon those who call upon him for help. A third understanding of faith involves the daring access to God’s bounty. It pertains to a person who musters enough courage to “gate crush” into God’s warehouse of blessings. Thus, we often hear people say, “Lord, I’m claiming it now even as I am yet to experience a cure; thank you for sending me the gift of healing.”
All the above-cited understandings of faith require humility. One who is not humble will not abide by the defined doctrine guarded by the Church. Similarly, a proud person will never let go and let God’s providence work. Lastly, a proud person will not have the strength to do the daring access to God’s grace. He wavers in his prayer and even ends up blaming God for his miseries.
Letter “h” happens to be the last letter of the word faith. Without this letter, faith is just “fait” which when pronounced in Cebuano will sound like “pa-it” (bitter). If “h” stands for humility, then faith will just make life bitter unless it is completed by humility. Isn’t life bitter without humility? A proud person will never live in peace in an environment full of imperfect people.
Whether faith is understood as defined doctrine, or providence, or daring access, it will have many loose ends unless capped by humility. Faith without humility leads to self-righteousness. Is your faith complete? – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M. Email: [email protected].
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