Finding A Miracle

Throughout his ministry Jesus touched lives. Und­oubtedly the most fascinating part of his ministry was the miracles. Thirty-seven miracles are recor­ded in the gospels. At the conclusion of his gos­pel, John wrote that Jesus did so many other things that they could not be described because there would not be enough books in the world to contain them.

Faith?

Jesus’ first miracle was turning wa­ter into wine at the wedding in Cana. After that he went on to drive out evil spirits, heal the deaf, blind and lame and he brought people back to life. The miracles of healing and bringing back the dead are probably the most extraordinary. In many of those stories Jesus said that it was their faith that healed them. They are healed because they have faith. What does that say to us? Do we be­lieve that with the right amount of faith Jesus can heal what makes us sick? Can our faith save a father from cancer or heal a dying child? “We were hoping for a miracle.” What happens when the cancer is terminal or the child dies? Does it suggest that our faith was not enough? Does it suggest that God didn’t hear our cries and Jesus was absent? I don’t know.

Homework

What I do know is that God speaks to us in our life and through our experiences. He is with us when we mourn and when we rejoice. He is pre­sent in our pain and suffering. God became man so that he could walk in our shoes. It was a mirac­le. Jesus fed thousands and it was a miracle. He feeds us today in the gospels and in the Eucharist. Jesus walked on water and so did Peter. It was a miracle. Peter was afraid of the storm and as he took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink. Jesus stretched out his hand and saved him and he sa­ves us. It’s up to us to have faith, even during the storms in our life. It’s up to us to find the miracles that happen every day. Jesus’ own death was tra­gic. Yet he rose to new life so we could have eter­nal life. What other miracle could we hope for?