The Holy Priest-Martyr Patrick, Bishop of Prussa, and Those with Him (361- 63)
Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Acts 19:1-8; John 14:1-11.
Read John 14:1-11
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today Jesus is speaking to his disciples who are weak in their faith and even afraid of what is to come. Jesus sees into their hearts and identifies what is lacking. St. Cyril of Alexandria says, “Here, Jesus makes an able soldier out of one who recently was a coward. And while the disciples were suffering with the anxieties of fear, he commands them to cling to the intense power of faith… Faith is a weapon whose blade is stout and broad; it drives away all cowardice that may spring from the expectation of coming suffering and renders the darts of evildoers utterly void of effect and makes their temptations utterly profit-less.” (Commentary on the Gospel of John 9).
To have faith in God means to believe in Him as the all powerful, all caring, all loving Father who knows me by name and the number of my hairs on my head. Who is working all things for the good for those who love Him. Who sent His only-begotten Son to bring me out of my hopeless and miserable condition into eternal life in the Kingdom, through His Son’s cross and resurrection. Faith opens our hearts and affirms our relationship with God and His Son. This is why it opens the flood gate of God’s grace in our life.
Take a moment today to meditate on your faith. How much do I really trust and believe in God? What can I do to nurture and grow my faith? As your faith grows so will God’s grace grow in your life.