ASK FOR FAITH
Lk. 1:26-38
The common theme between the First Reading and the Gospel is the sign that a virgin will bear a child, and that a child will also be born of an old woman.
Both are signs, but a sign is not important for faith. Why: A sign is not needed for one who has faith because he believes anyway. On the other hand, one who does not have faith, even if he already sees signs, will still say that it is not the sign. A sign is worthless to one who believes because he will do so even without a sign. It is also of no significance to one who does not believe because he will not believe even when presented with a sign.
Let us look at our Christian life. Are we the kind of people who always look for signs? Do we pray and ask the Lord for signs? Do we pray and ask the Lord, “If this is Your will, this is the sign I ask of You.”
A sign is not important for us. What we need is faith. Mary did not become beautiful before God because she was given a sign. She became beautiful because she believed even before the sign was given to her.
St. Teresa of Avila received apparitions and special attentions from God, still, she told Him, “Lord, please take away these signs. I want to believe in You even if there are no signs.”
If you believe because you see, there is not much merit in that because everybody else will believe as you do. If you believe even if there are no signs, then this is something beautiful. That is your own gift to God.
Let us not yield to the temptation of asking the Lord for signs. Rather, let us ask the Lord, “Give me faith, even if there are no signs, I will believe. Faith is your gift to me. Faith is also my gift to God.”
ASK FOR FAITH
Lk. 1:26-38
Only Jesus, Always Jesus