Against All Odds

Today, as I was reflecting upon the Gospel for Mass, I was struck by the faith of the man with the withered hand who was encountering Jesus. This man had a withered hand - he was paralyzed - and had no way of thinking that he could move his poor hand. Yet, Jesus looks him in the eyes and asks him to "Stretch out his hand." This is where the encounter truly becomes exciting because the man with the withered hands does not only see and know with the eyes of the natural world. He sees beyond! Maybe he doesn't even think too much about, but motivated by love, just reaches his hand out to Jesus. The hand that cannot move now appears in full motion and fully healed.

Against all odds, this man believed in Jesus Christ. Motivated by love he moved his hand to was touched by the healing power of the Lord. This is what is commonly known as the supernatural virtue of faith. It is faith that helps move beyond our own capacity. In my daily prayer book this quote struck me today, "Faith enables us to reach targets we had always thought beyond us; to solve intractable problems...that we had always thought to be insoluble." Through faith we can become better people, what the Church has commonly called saints. All of us are called to this state in our daily lives.

We must look within and ask the Lord about our daily circumstances. What are the hurdles that I must leap today? How are you calling me to step out in faith? The reality that we are too weak to do this on our own is certain, but we must remember that the reality that God can do all things if we ask him is also certain.