Miracles
Hi all!
For those who didn’t attend class, today’s lesson was on the Miracles of Jesus. At the start of the lesson, we discussed certain Bible passages such as the Feeding of the Five Thousand, and the Wedding at Cana; and talked about the differences between miracles and magic.
I think the gist of the lesson is best summed up in this passage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Jesus accompanies his words with many ‘mighty works and wonders and signs’, which manifest that the kingdom is present in him and attest that he was the promised Messiah.
The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Father’s works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God. But his miracles can also be occasions for ‘offence’; they are not intended to satisfy people’s curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons (see Jn 11:47-48; Mk 3:22).
By freeing some individuals from the earthly evils of hunger, injustice, illness and death, Jesus performed messianic signs. Nevertheless he did not come to abolish all evils here below, but free men from the gravest slavery, sin, which thwarts them in their vocation as God’s sons and causes all forms of human bondage (see Jn 8:34-36).
The coming of God’s kingdom means the defeat of Satan’s: ‘If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.’ (Matt 12:26, 28 ) Jesus’ exorcisms free some individuals from the domination of demons. They anticipate Jesus’ great victory over ‘the ruler of this world’ (Jn 12:31; Lk 8:26-39). The kingdom of God will be definitively established through Christ’s cross: ‘God reigned from the wood.’
[CCC 547-550]
One important thing to note about miracles, however, is this: the importance of faith. Consider the passage in the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus heals the centurion’s (Roman officer) servant (also see Lk 7:1-10, Jn 4:46-53) — The centurion was so sure that as long as Jesus “[gave] the word… [his] servant will be cured”, and Jesus was surprised. He remarked to his followers: “I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this.”. Most importantly, look at what he finally said to the centurion: “Go back, then; you have believed, so let this be done for you.” And the servant was cured without even having met Jesus in person.
And so, it is our hope this week that you will perform a minor miracle in someone else’s life. Through one simple action (anything that you deem doable), “bear witness that [Jesus] is the Son of God” and in doing so, help someone else “strengthen faith in the One who does his Father’s works”
Have a wonderful week ahead! And see you the week after National Day =)
- Stephanie
