[Pearls Episode 141: Bringing Sunday into the work week.]
Sunday’s Gospel reading includes this:
“Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.”
This is one of many, many scripture passages giving us assurance that God not only hears our prayers, but He responds to them. And not just that, He responds speedily.
Yesterday I shared an anecdote of praying to be released from an obsessive thought – and the relief came speedily. Praise God.
What if the relief had not come right away? Well, the response would still be, Praise God!
Here’s what most atheists like Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson would say – “You religious people – when things go well you say ‘it’s God’s will’. And when they don’t you say ‘it’s a mystery’”. In fact, those are nearly verbatim the words of Dr. Tyson. Perhaps you’ve encountered this character? I’m only recently discovering Dr. Tyson and his colorful views on religion. In fact – we’ll soon be devoting an episode of Answering Atheism to him.
Here’s what most atheists miss. The reason I would still praise God even if relief had not come speedily is because, in faith, I would (hopefully) trust that God had heard and responded – and His response was to give me the grace to resist the obsessive thought – and grow from that struggle.
Is that “blind faith” or “self-deception,” as the Dr. Tyson’s of the world would probably characterize it?
Not at all.
While faith is a supernatural gift, true believers in Christ also have good reasons for their faith. Perhaps we’ve experienced personal miracles. Perhaps we’ve investigated other public miracles (like the dancing sun of Fatima) and satisfied ourselves that they defy scientific explanation. Perhaps we’re compelled by the lives of Saints.
Many are the reasons we have for our faith in Jesus. And so, when Jesus says God will respond speedily, we trust in that. Then it’s just a matter of doing our part to understand what the speedy response was.
It resembles when a scientist comes up with a theory, tests it with an experiment, and it doesn’t match up. They have great faith that they just need to look closer at their theory, and eventually things will add up. They have good reason for their faith.
And so do we.
Blessings on your journey with Christ –
Steve
Steve and Karen Smith
Interior Life