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"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life -- the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it ...." I John 1:1-2 (RSV)

"After his resurrection the disciples saw the living Christ, whom they knew to have died, with the eyes of faith (oculata fide)." Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, III, 55, 2 ad 1, as quoted in D. M. Stanley, Jesus in Gethsemane (New York, Paulist Press 1980).

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

If Jesus Came to Your Town Would He Find Faith?

After Jesus healed the demoniac, Matthew says this: 

Whereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district. 

Matt. 8:34 (NABRE).   

They all came out to meet Jesus who had healed one of the locals.  But we know that after he sent the evil spirits into the herd of pigs  the pigs rushed down a steep bank and drowned in the sea.    The people were fascinated with Jesus,  but they rejected him.  They "begged" him to leave.  

 Jesus had interfered with the town's commerce in pork.   Money was more important than the kingdom of God.   After witnessing this beautiful healing of one of their own,  the townspeople had a choice and they decided to reject God.   There is no excuse for that.   But I can't be too hard on the townspeople.   What would people today do if Jesus came into their town and  performed a healing which caused a popular  local business to shut down?  Without intervention by the Holy Spirit, the response would be no different.  After all, we would say,we are only human.     But that’s why Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
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