Faith meets Power

“You can,… I will” ( Mk. 1.40)

In science, we learn how tremendous nuclear energy can be released when neutrons collide with atoms.  A greater amount of energy is released when faith meets power. The story of the leper meeting Jesus is an example of what happens when faith meets power. The leper has faith. Jesus has power.  They meet to release energy, a great  miracle, a huge blessing.

“ You can, if you will” says the leper. “ Yes, I will” says Jesus.  Jesus has the power but he needs faith to release that power within him. “Yes, I want to” is the answer of Jesus to the leper’s request.  He seems  more eager to bless and to heal than the leper wanting a miracle. Jesus is on the lookout for people with faith so that he can be God by blessing, healing, forgiving, and providing.

The ‘you can’-faith of the leper reminds us of the slogan of Barack Obama during his Presidential campaign, ”Yes, we can!”. Yes, we can obtain tremendous power and huge miracles for ourselves and for others if we can but just touch Jesus with faith. Jesus has the power. You need to supply faith. The energy released when faith meets power is even greater than when atoms interact with neutrons.  The first miracle of Cana was because Mary supplied faith. She had the ability to believe in Jesus even before she had seen any miracles.  Although Peter knew the nature of water well, he had the faith to step out of his boat onto the raging waters and make the sea into a playground. So long as his faith triumphed he walked on the water. The paralytic man took his mat and walked away because a few of his friends climbed and opened the roof and let him down in front of Jesus. The miracle of the loaves was the result of the great generosity of the boy who gave the two fish and five loaves with great expectation. Bartimaeus was healed because he had the courage to throw away the only possessions he had, his begging bowl and guiding stick, and run unsteadily with steady faith towards the one who had power. The woman with the hemorrhage was healed because she knew a touch of faith with power will release a miracle.

Jesus has the power. Do you have the faith? Touch Power with Faith and life, energy, blessing, miracles will follow.

-        Fr T.V.George sdb