It’s all about Faith (Monday, Lent 3)

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INTRODUCTION

Lenten season, amongst other things, is also a special period of spiritual clean-up exercise. But if we must be cleansed, we must believe that Jesus can do it. Trusting in His cleansing power, let us submit our souls that have been tainted by sin, and humbly implore Him to make us clean again.  


HOMILY PROPER

Do you know that a dirty clothe is heavier than a clean one? Get two clothes of the same material and size (one clean, the other very dirty) and observe very keenly. You will discover that the dirty one slightly weighs more than the clean one.


What sin does to our souls is what dirt does to a cloth. It weighs the soul down and cripples the willpower (the power to resist evil). That’s why whenever we get ourselves enmeshed in a sinful habit, we feel crippled to leave that habit. If I steal today, and get another opportunity to steal tomorrow, I will still steal. The first instance of stealing has crippled my willpower; and whenever there is another opportunity for me to steal, my conscience will tell me: “Go ahead, steal! After all, you stole the other day”. That’s what sin does to us. That’s why we find it very difficult sometimes to wriggle out of certain sinful habits.


It is good news for us to learn that Jesus, who is God Himself, has the absolute power to wash our souls clean of sin. He who cleansed lepers also has the power to cleanse the leprosy of the soul (that is, sin). It is not enough to be told time without number that Jesus has the power. We must also BELIEVE that He has the power. We don’t need a soap-maker to come and explain to us how the chemical properties of soap bring about a cleansing effect. We don’t need a pharmacist or a doctor to explain to us how the chemical elements of medicine react in the human body in order to bring about healing. We believe that a piece of soap together with water can make our clothes clean. We also believe the words of a certified chemist that some medicine can bring about the desired healing effect in our bodies.


2 Kings 5:1-15a tells about Naaman, a Syrian (not a Jew, not one of those who claim that they are God’s Chosen People). He was an army commander, but he was down with leprosy. Having learnt that there was a prophet in Israel, he sought his help. Having met Elisha, he was told to go and wash himself seven times in the "not-so-good" Israelite Jordan River while there were better rivers like Abana and Pharpar in Damascus. Of course, he was angry and found no reason why he should go to Jordan and simply immerse himself seven times. He expected a more elaborate ritual in a bigger river. Yes, he earlier resisted; but later on he submitted in faith to what Elisha told him to do; and got his healing. Naaman believed even when he had no reason to believe! That’s faith!


If an outsider (a non-Israelite) could express such faith in the words of the prophet of the God of Israel, Jesus wondered why His own people could not believe in Him and in His words (cf. Luke 4:24-30). And that was why He said that “no prophet is acceptable in his own country”.


My dear friends, if we must be saved, we must believe. It is not about position or status. It is all about faith. The means of our liberation and salvation are not far from us. We have all that it takes for us to be saved and to live righteously; but unbelief has crippled many of us.


Let me narrow it down to Catholics! The Catholics have the Seven Sacraments that are instituted by Jesus himself. Yet some Catholics find it very difficult to believe in the healing power of the Sacraments. We have the Eucharist: the same Jesus who healed many people and carried away their sorrows is REALLY present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Yet we find it difficult to believe. We have the Sacrament of Reconciliation and we know about its healing power. Yet we find it difficult to believe. Lenten season is a special period of cleansing; but we must submit to Jesus in faith if we must be cleansed.   


Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I submit to you in faith for cleansing! I don't know HOW but I believe that You CAN. When doubt arises, please help my unbelief, Amen!


Have a fruitful Lenten journey!



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