Dear Parishioners,
Miracles! Do you believe in miracles? For the last several weeks, I have been praying and thinking about miracles a lot. I don’t think that I have become obsessed with them, but I have begun to wonder. Do miracles happen? If they do, why do they? Also, who makes them happen? Does God give us a miracle or do we some how elicit miracles from God? I don’t know the answers to these questions but I have thought about them and would like to share a few of my thoughts on them with you.
Yes, yes I believe in miracles. I also happen to think that miracles are happening all the time around us. I believe they happen to give us renewed hope and joy in God’s loving and infinite presence in our lives. I believe they happen just the way we want them to, but also in ways we have, and could never have imagined. I just don’t know why or how they come about.
In the Bible, Jesus cures people – performs miracles – all the time. It seems to me that in every case someone does the asking and usually that person exhibits great faith. Jesus responds to that faith with the miracle. Does Jesus (God) grant the miracle just because he wants to and can? Or does the miracle come about because of the belief and faith of the petitioner? Or maybe simply asked, is it God or the person making the miracle happen.
Now please, before you begin to stone me for blasphemy, please think about it. How do miracles come about? We are praying for miracles all the time, aren’t we. Why do some miracles happen and others don’t. Are some people more deserving than others? Can God be selective in his miracles and thus in his love for all of us? I believe that to both of these last two questions the answer no. So, I am back to my question – Who is responsible for miracles?
I believe the answer is both – God and the person – are responsible. I don’t think that God can or will do anything (miracle) without our participation. When we truly believe, God does for us. When we really believe, we know that God will do for us. Therefore, how can a miracle not happen?
So, yes, yes I believe in miracles. They happen every day and in every place. How and why I still need to pray and think about, but yes miracles exist. Miracles do happen. Let us go forth and with God’s grace and blessings make miracles.
Fr. Andy
