“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11: 1). This faith is the core of Christian life. Through this we confess that God is our Lord.
The aim of the Gospel of John is to make the readers realize that Jesus is the Son of God and thus to bring them to eternal life in the name of Jesus. It was because of this conviction that when Jesus asked “But who do you say that I am?” Peter was able to reply that “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16: 15-16). It was this same faith that led the woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years to the conviction that “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well” (Mt 9: 20 – 21).
Faith is ultimately connected with the salvation. “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16: 31). God always cares about the salvation of those who trust in him. Trusting in the Lord when Haggar cried to him, God answered her prayers (Gen 16: 11). When Peter said to the crippled beggar in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to stand up and walk, he was healed (Acts 3: 6-7).
The core of Christian faith is to confess Jesus above everyone and everything. It was because of this conviction that the early Christians were bold enough to lay even their life for the gospel of the Lord. It was this same truth that is being revealed by the one among the ten lepers who were healed (Lk 17: 11-19). Real faith demands self-sacrifice.
Only those who have this conviction can live for the Lord and to witness him with their lives. This faith is being handed down to us through the Church. Let us pray to the Lord to give us the grace to cooperate to this faith and thus to give fruits in our life
Fr Joseph Mundolickal CST