Tag: Faith

My Withered Soul

There are only five (some scholars believe six) healing stories of Jesus that took place on the Sabbath. The first one, which is the only one to appear in all three Synoptic Gospels, is the healing of the withered hand. The oldest rendition of the story is likely the one in the Gospel of Mark: “Again, [Jesus] entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Come up here before us.’ Jesus [then] said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out and his hand was restored.” (NAB, MK 3:1, 3, 5)

The man who needed healing was searching, not necessarily for a restored hand, but for God. He came to the synagogue on the Holy Sabbath, as he was, lame hand and all, to worship and to encounter God, his Creator. We are all somewhat like this man; we all need healing. We might not have a withered, useless hand, but some part(s) of us have become lame, fruitless, and less than desirable. God wants to heal them. God wants to heal us.

Heavenly Father, you who are Creator of the Universe, and who are also the infinitely loving, Divine Healer, heal my withered soul. You know my infirmities, You know my weaknesses, and You know those parts of me that are most in need of your healing touch. Touch me. Heal me. Free me from my defects, so that I may more fully love and serve your Son, Jesus, by loving and serving those around me. Amen.

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Do Whatever He Says

It is fitting that the first public miracle performed by Jesus took place during a local wedding feast. Feasts and banquets pervade the New Testament scriptures, including of course, the Wedding Feast to which we are invited, the heavenly and eternal banquet with our Father. Each Mass is in fact, a participation of the Heavenly Eucharist initiated by Jesus at the Last Supper. It is not a repetition of the event, but is a real participation in the one-time Pascal Sacrifice by our Lord and Savior.

The Gospel of John tells us that while Jesus, his family, and his disciples were attending this wedding in Cana, “the wine ran short, [and] the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” (NAB, JN 2:3-5) Mary, who had some role in the supervision of the servants, gives clear direction to them, and to us, to do the will of her son, Jesus.

Mary, in her simplicity of faith, trusts in the will and actions of Jesus. Mary points to the Lord. She does not come up with her own plan regarding a problem of which she’s concerned, but instead relies on the love and compassion of God’s Only Son. Mary is the example par excellence of discipleship, as she comes to Jesus with her concerns; she tells him the “problem,” and then leaves it to him for resolution. Mary, the Mother of God, does not claim a position of superiority, demanding and arguing for her position; rather, in her incredible humility, she abandons her concerns at the feet of Jesus, and then, in perhaps the simplest and most direct instructions possible, Mary provides THE Key to Discipleship: “Do whatever he tells you.”

The Miracle at Cana happens through faith, trust, and obedience, when Jesus turns the water gathered by servants into wine, not ordinary wine, but choice wine. The transforming power of Jesus, when the problem is solved according to his will, results in a situation that is even better than what it had originally been. By trusting Jesus, by doing what he says, and by obediently following him, Jesus transforms our lives to heavenly heights never before imagined.

Jesus, I trust in you. Increase my faith, that I may obediently follow you as I am transformed into the person whom you created me to be, a person far greater and more beautiful than can be imagined. Help me to recognize that I am a Child of the Kingdom, as my hope of heavenly reward is fulfilled in my daily journey of loving you and loving those in my life. Give me strength and courage when I am weak, that I may do whatever you ask, according to your will and for your glory. Amen.

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Real Friendship

Mark’s Gospel tells us of the story of a paralyzed man who was healed. More importantly, the man was first forgiven of his sins. “They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, ‘Child, your sins are forgiven. Rise, pick up your mat, and walk.’” (NAB, MK 2:3-5, 9)

Jesus consistently demonstrated his authority and power to forgive sins through the various miracles and healings he performed. Oftentimes, those occasions involved individuals, but the healing of this paralytic would not have happened were it not for his friends. It was the faith of this paralyzed man and his friends which moved Jesus to mercy and compassion: “Jesus saw their faith.” (2:5) He was paralyzed, but not helpless, not alone. It was his weakness and powerlessness that presented the opportunity for his friends to demonstrate the strength of their faith, by which Jesus exhibited his power of healing and forgiveness. It is truly in our weakness where strength abounds.

The paralytic’s friends took him to Jesus. They recognized their friend’s needs, and out of their love for him and their faith in Jesus, they demonstrated their commitment and fraternal love by seeking the Lord. What kind of friends do we have? Do they bring us closer to Jesus? Do they share a faith that calls us to a deeper conversion to and love of the Lord? And perhaps more importantly, what kind of friend are we? Do we draw others to Christ? Does our faith compel us to help others in bringing their problems to Jesus, the Healer and Forgiver? Do our lives lead others to the Lord?

Jesus, my all-loving, merciful, forgiving, and healing Lord, may I seek you in all things. You made me, not to be alone, but rather, to live in community, as a brother or sister, and as a friend to others. May I be a true friend, by bringing others to you and by drawing them closer and leading them in faith and love to receive your healing, forgiveness, and mercy. Amen.

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Love Conquers Fear

Water was not only a symbolic element for the Israelites, but it was also an integral part of society at the time of Jesus. After all, many of Jesus’ followers were either fishermen or dependent on the fishing industry for their livelihood. The local economy was heavily influenced by this industry as well. So, it is natural that many scenes reported in the Scripture take place in or near bodies of water.

One such scene takes place after the miracle of Jesus feeding of the 5,000, and we hear about it in Mark’s Gospel: “Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida…. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. But at once he spoke with them, ‘Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!’” (NAB MK 45-50) The disciples were afraid, perhaps afraid of the unknown, perhaps afraid of what they saw, the threat of the sea, or whatever else, but Jesus tells them not to be afraid.

There will always be unknowns and there will always be various threats to our safety, to our emotional or financial stability, to the integrity of our relationships, etc. What overcomes this fear is our trust in God, a trust fully founded in love. God loves us with an incomprehensible and infinite love, and if we are able to live in that love, we will live without fear. In John’s First Letter, we hear, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.” (1JN 4:18) That is true of judgment and in all other aspects of our lives. Love conquers even our fears.

Jesus, I trust in you. Increase my trust and increase my love. Take away all my fears and doubts, as my faith grows ever stronger in your love and care for me. Allow me to abandon myself entirely to you, laying all my fears at your feet, and leaving them there as your trusting child. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.

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Long Live the King!

The joyous Twelve Days of Christmas have been celebrated, and as we bring the Christmas Season to a close, we commemorate a special manifestation of our Lord, the Solemnity of Epiphany. Our Gospel today, tells us of magi coming from the east, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” We sometimes refer to these magi as “wise men” because of accounts of them being pagans from the East, astrologers, and interpreters of dreams, but our Gospel doesn’t tell us how many magi sought Jesus. We can only assume there were several of them, each accompanied by other family members and many servants, along with loads of supplies and provisions. Their journeys to Judea most likely took between 4 to 12 months, and were constantly met with the difficulties, trials, and threats of the wilderness. They knew the stars, however, and they followed a new star, one that was believed to reveal a new ruler of the people, a newborn king that would unite the human and divine by his death.

When Herod heard of their quest, he was deeply troubled. Nearly forty years earlier, Herod was chosen by the Roman Senate and given the title, “King of the Jews.” The Roman Senate sent Herod to Judea to maintain and monitor the emperor’s interests in the region, ruling over the Jews. Herod, a convert to Judaism, had financed and completed incredible construction projects, including the magnificent expansion of the Jewish Temple. Four walls, including the Wailing Wall, still remain in place from his construction efforts. Hearing of a “new” king would most certainly have meant that he was to be replaced, and this infuriated and enraged Herod.

As we know, Herod plotted to use the magi. After assembling his priests and advisors and getting information about where this king would be born, Herod sent the magi on their way with instructions to return to him with the identity and location of this newborn king so he himself could do homage. The magi, who were very attentive to their dreams, were warned not to return to Herod, and when he realized the magi had foiled his plan, Herod ordered the execution of all the infant first-born sons in the region.

We oftentimes believe and act like we are kings of our own lives. We live day-to-day as if we are autonomous and independent rulers, and would never give up our power and control. And sometimes, we destroy whatever we may see as a threat to our independence, authority, position, title, or wealth. The reality is that none of this belongs to us – all that we “have,” even our talents, gifts, motivations, and good desires, all come from God. We can be like the magi, make a life-changing journey, and present our most precious gifts to our true King, lay all of our treasures, even our very lives, at the feet of Jesus; or we can seek to destroy anything and everything for which we feel threatened, even that which is perfect, beautiful, good, and true.

Some questions to consider: Who sits on the throne of my heart? Is it Jesus? Is Jesus the ruler of my life? Is it he who drives me and motivates me in my relationships with others, in my efforts at work or school, and in my dealings with those less fortunate, the marginalized, or the poor? Am I allowing the fear of “losing” something, perhaps my position, power, or prestige, to keep from acknowledging and submitting to the true King?

Heavenly Father, allow me to imitate the “wise” magi. Give me the courage and humility I need to release myself from the pursuits common in this world and to put Jesus on the throne of my heart, to be ruler of my life. Take away my fears so that I live according to your will and for your glory. Amen.

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Seek the Lord

The Sixth Day of Christmas!

So much of Jesus’ childhood and young adult life are unknown to us, but the Gospel of Luke (2:41-52) gives us a glimpse into the life of the Holy Family, as he describes the events surrounding the family’s pilgrimage journey to Jerusalem. They went there to celebrate the Feast of Passover when Jesus was twelve years old. As is customary, when Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem to return back to their home, they traveled in separate parts of the caravan; men traveled together and the women traveled together in a separate part of the group. Because of Jesus’ age (12), he could have been with either the men or women, so it is reasonable that Joseph and Mary would think that Jesus was with the other. However, after a day of traveling and then realizing that he was not with either of them or any of their relatives, they experienced what parents dread, the great anxiety and fear of not knowing where their child is.

Joseph and Mary return to Jerusalem, and after three days of searching, they finally found Jesus in the Temple asking questions of and dialoging with the priests and teachers, and “all who heard him were astounded!” (NAB, LK 2:47) In response to being asked for an explanation from his parents, Jesus responds, “’Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’” (2:49)

There are many things to learn from the Holy Family. One lesson is precisely this, that when we experience that sudden, great fear and anxiety in our lives, when we’re not sure where Jesus is, or who we are, or when we feel empty inside and alone, it’s time to return to Jerusalem, whose name means, “City of Peace.” When we lack peace, we can be assured that we need to reconcile ourselves with God. This is especially true when we are undergoing various trials and difficulties; we are called to return to the Holy Land, return to our Father’s House. There we will find our Lord, listening and teaching. He hears our cry, and he speaks to us in the temple of our hearts, and he speaks to us through his Bride, the Church.

Father, give me courage to return to you, to learn from and imitate the Holy Family as I seek to find your Son Jesus, especially in times when I lack peace, feel anxiety, or experience fear. I know I can find him in Your House; He’s always there. Give me faith so that my life my glorify you. Amen.

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Examine Your Walk

As the calendar year comes to an end, many will examine their finances, their health, or other aspects of their life and make resolutions for the New Year. It’s good to have new beginnings, opportunities to realign ourselves to live a healthier lifestyle, make more financially responsible choices, or reset ourselves in some other positive way. It’s also an excellent time to examine our spiritual lives.

Today, we are reminded in the First Letter of John of what that looks like. “Beloved: The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.” (NAB, 1JN 2:3-6)

We often use the word “walk” when referring to our spiritual journey, and rightly so. We are called to be followers of Jesus, to walk with him, in this life, to complete our spiritual journey alongside of him, being his hands, his feet, and speaking his words in our world. Let’s set aside some real time today to truly, deeply, and honestly examine our lives to see if our “walk” matches his, if our lives reflect the life of our Savior. Then, confess whatever is keeping us from authentically living our Christian faith, express true sorrow for our failings, beg God for his grace to help use change our lives to live righteously, and commit, with God’s help, to pursue sanctity and holiness each and every day, in all of our relationships, in every step we take.

Lord, Jesus, you know where my “walk” doesn’t match my “talk,” but more importantly, where my walk isn’t unified with yours. Give me the wisdom I need to see where changes are necessary, where I fail to live according to your Law of Love, and where, with your grace, I can change to live according to your Holy Will. I cannot do it on my own, but only because of your love, grace, and faithfulness. I love you, Lord, and I thank you for loving me. Give me courage to live the life to which you call me, for your glory and according to your will. Amen.

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Sin Can’t Win

After the Magi gave homage the infant Jesus, they are warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and Joseph is also warned by the Angel of God that the life of Jesus is in jeopardy and that he is to flee immediately to Egypt with Mary and Jesus.

On this Fourth Day of Christmas we reflect on the magnitude of sin and the great lengths one may go in pursuit of pride, prestige, and power. King Herod was threatened by the presence of the baby Jesus, knowing that the prophecies about him might be true, so “when Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.” (NAB, MT 2:16) In a most horrific act of evil, Herod slaughtered these innocent babies, yet unbeknownst to himself, he was also fulfilling another prophecy about the coming Messiah.

While it is uncertain how many children were murdered in Bethlehem, we remember that they died at the hands of a paranoid and evil ruler strictly because of Christ. Furthermore, the suffering experienced by the families of these innocents would continue for generations. Sin is never isolated and individual. We are communal by nature, and our sins, although we think of them as quiet and private, never really are. God triumphs here. After the death of Herod, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph returned to the Promised Land from Egypt, just as God had brought his Chosen People to the Promised Land from the slavery of Egypt generations earlier.

Sin continues to impact all of us, even sins of generations past, but sin has no power over God, and his love will not be shut out. Jesus, our innocent Savior, will also experience the full force of sin at his Passion, but once again, he will demonstrate his power over this world and its evils through his Resurrection and Ascension. We are called to trust God, knowing that he is in control, even in the darkest moments of life.

Father, allow me to trust you. Help me to see that where sin abounds, your love is present all the more, and that all things, even evil ones, will work out for your glory since nothing can overcome your love. Increase my faith in you, Jesus. Amen.

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Beloved & Faithful

On this Third Day of Christmas we reflect on the life of St. John, the Apostle and Evangelist who authored the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation, and three short letters, John 1, 2, and 3, in the New Testament. The Apostle James was John’s older brother, and the two together were known as the Sons of Thunder. In the Gospel of John, he is referred to as the “Beloved Disciple” or the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”

John was with Jesus from the very first miracle at the wedding feast in Cana, where Mary interceded on behalf of the wedding party, and Jesus turned water into wine. John was also part of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, along with Peter and James. These three accompanied Jesus for the miracle of the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, the Transfiguration of Jesus, and the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion. St. John was the only Apostle of Jesus who was not martyred, yet he was also the only Apostle who did not abandon Jesus during his Passion. John remained at the foot of the Cross with Jesus’ mother Mary. In fact, John, representing all of us followers, received Mary as his own mother at the request of the dying Jesus: “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” (NAB, JN 19:26-27)

Finally, on Resurrection Day, when the women had discovered that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, Mary Magdalene ran to Peter and John, telling them what she had seen. Peter and John ran to the tomb, with John running faster and arriving first. The Gospel says, “When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there…. [John] also went in…. He saw and believed.” (20:6-8)

Lord Jesus, give me the love and faith of your Beloved Disciple. May I stand with you through the miracles and the sufferings in my life, and may I too accept the gift of your Mother from the Cross. Give me the eagerness and energy to love as your Disciple, St. John, loved you and others, so that my life may also give you glory in this life, until you one day welcome me into your Heavenly Kingdom. Amen.

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The Witness of Stephen

On this Second Day of Christmas in the Book of Acts, we hear about St. Stephen, one of the first seven deacons of the Church, chosen to serve the poor and the widows, and to perform other mistrial needs in the community as determined by the Apostles. As the early church expanded, these First Bishops needed help, so they chose seven men who were “filled with faith and the Holy Spirit” to be appointed, presented, and ordained through the laying on of hands to extend the pastoral care of the Apostles themselves. (cf. NAB, ACTS  6-7)

As he began his ministry, Stephen, filled with wisdom, grace, and power from heaven, saw many come to the faith; he was a great preacher and performed many miracles among the people. His service to Christ eventually led to his being put on trial by the Sanhedrin, where several false witnesses were brought forward to testify against him. Yet even “those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like that of an angel.” (6:15)

Stephen defended himself, preaching intently about Salvation History, demonstrating Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the prophets and the resistance and opposition of the Israelites. St. Stephen accused the Sanhedrin: “You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.” (7:53) This incensed them, but bolstered Stephen who preached all the more boldly. The accusers rushed Stephen, “threw him out of the city, and began to stone him” to death, a persecution and execution overseen by a young man named Saul (later to be known as Paul, the Apostle). St. Stephen’s last words: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (7:59-60)

Heavenly Father, St. Stephen, your Deacon and the First Martyr of the Church, was chosen to give up his life for you. Fill me with faith and embolden me with courage to profess Jesus at all times and in all circumstances, the preach your Holy Gospel, the Good News of Salvation to the world in my words and through my actions. And when my time comes to depart from this life, may my lips be filled with love for you as I echo the words of Stephen, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” Amen.

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Benedictus!

Christmas Eve marks the final moment where the prophecies of salvation history will be fulfilled in the birth of a Messiah. The Gospel of Luke (1:67-79) gives us a beautiful song of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving that has become a part of the daily prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, for the Church, and rightly so. Each and every day of our lives, we are called to welcome Jesus, to ask him in, to recommit ourselves to be his follower. By God’s grace, we live out our faith, daily conforming ourselves to Christ, in the hope of eternal life with the Resurrected Son of God. Let us pray, giving praise and thanksgiving to God in the words of Zechariah:

“’Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our father and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace.’”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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Magnificat!

After she arrived at her cousin Elizabeth’s home, Mary is greeted by the beautiful and faith-filled words of Elizabeth, calling Mary “Most Blessed among women,” and crying out, “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (NAB, LK 1:42) Elizabeth continues, proclaiming again how blessed is Mary, “the mother of my Lord.” (1:43) In response to Elizabeth’s praises, Mary speaks from the depth of her profound and saintly humility, and gives us a prayer composed of some of the most beautiful words of eternal love that have ever graced human ears:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” (LK 1:46-56)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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Elizabeth’s Faith

When Mary is told that her elder cousin Elizabeth is pregnant, she immediately leaves on a nearly 100-mile journey to Elizabeth’s home, to spend time with her and help her through several months of her pregnancy.  Mary does this, as we know, while herself pregnant. Upon the Virgin Mary’s arrival, Mary greets her cousin. We are told that “when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does it happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? … Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.’” (NAB, LK 1:41-43, 45)

This passage teaches much about Mary, but it also reveals the incredible faith and giftedness of Elizabeth. Four of the main characters we consistently hear about during Advent are Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary. Both sets of parents are involved in miraculous births. Zechariah and Elizabeth will have John, although Elizabeth is advanced in age and had been believed to be cursed with sterility. Joseph and Mary will have Jesus, although Mary remains a virgin and Jesus was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah, Joseph, and Mary are all visited by the Angel of God who announces to them the Good News of God, and reveals God’s plans regarding the births of John and Jesus.

We are not told of any angelic visitation to Elizabeth, yet she exudes confident and mature faith, and even makes profound theological statements concerning Mary and Jesus. Elizabeth has a special kind of faith, one made possible by the scandal, dishonor, disgrace, and intense scrutiny and judgment of others. We know that she lived a blameless and righteous life, but many believed that she must be cursed by God, since she was barren and without child. Interestingly, however, God would glorify and exalt what others saw as bad and shameful, and reveal to us for all time, the saintliness of Elizabeth through her humility, a humility borne out of decades of humiliation at the hands of others. Elizabeth’s humility and closeness to God gave her to prophesy about Mary, calling her “most blessed,” and Jesus, calling him “Lord.”

Heavenly Father, give me humility, the key to a virtuous life. There are no saints in heaven who did not have humility, whether it was borne out of love or humiliation. Give me perseverance to live a blameless and righteous life, so that in humility, I may see your presence and your work around me and in others. May I be like Elizabeth, who after suffering much, recognized your love and your blessing, and used them to proclaim your glory to the world. Amen.

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Let God Fight for You

Ahaz was King of Judah, ruling God’s people for a period of 16 years in the mid-eighth century B.C. Ahaz was the son of King Jotham, a godly man who tried desperately to get the people to follow God, but was flatly unsuccessful during his reign. When Ahaz became ruler at just 20 years old, he pulled the people farther from God by establishing false pagan practices, burning incense to pagan gods, erecting altars in the Temple to false gods, making and worshiping idols, paying foreign kings with treasures from the Temple, and even offering two of his own sons in human sacrifice to pagan gods. God sent prophets to Ahaz to have him reconcile with the Father, but Ahaz refused to listen and obey; he was more concerned about his material pleasures and worldly profits, glamor, and prestige, then he was about his soul, God’s People, and righteousness. Many consider Ahaz to be the most wicked king in all of Israel’s history.

The Prophet Isaiah counseled King Ahaz that he must trust in God, not man. Isaiah tells him that God will protect his people, but Ahaz has no faith in God; all his trust has been relinquished to the things and people of his world. As regional tensions grew, Judah was being threatened by surrounding kings, but instead of seeking God’s assistance, Ahaz sought to become subservient to the Assyrians, attempting to form an alliance with them instead of trusting God.

God, in his mercy and graciousness, was willing to give King Ahaz a sign so that he could believe and trust in the Lord, but Ahaz rejected him. Isaiah spoke to Ahaz as the representative of David’s family line of descendants, saying that the Chosen People will be given a sign of God’s faithfulness: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” (NAB, IS 7:14) Jesus is the sign of God’s love and faithfulness; he is the sign of redemption to all. And yet, he is much more than a sign, he is the perfection of love and all the virtues.

Heavenly Father, do not let me be seduced and trapped by the glamor, glitter, prestige, and profits of this world. Allow me to place my trust in you, and you alone. You have given me the sign of fidelity, your Son, my Savior and my Lord. Let me hear and live according to the words of your Prophet Isaiah, to be not afraid, and to allow me to let go and let you, Almighty God, fight and win my battles in this world. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.

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