In my reflection of January 8, I pointed out the significance of the action and words of the sick man to Jesus. And how Jesus granted the man’s request due to the manner his request was made. I related the episode to my request for a letter of recommendation from my one-time dean of studies and how the additional lines letting him know how inevitable his recommendation was for my success moved him to act. In today’s reflection centered on Mark 6, 53-56, I discuss the role of active faith of the people who brought the sick ones to Jesus and pleaded that they touch the hem of his garment and how they were healed upon touching the hem of Jesus’ garment.
A story was once told of a kind and understanding elderly Priest who was a teacher at a senior Seminary. Knowing how important passing their exams was for the progress of the young seminarians, as well as aware of the fact that his grading of students must be based on the rules of the institution, he designed a way of tempering justice with mercy. During examinations ,which happen often at the seminary in oral form, he encourages the struggling students to make a strong effort so that they could justify the passing mark which he is willing to award them. Literally, he would say “my son, just make effort to say something and I will award you 40.” 40 percent happens to be the minimum requirement for the pass mark. A close reflection on the kindness and mercy of the old priest presents to me the interplay of faith and grace in the journey of faith.
Jesus’ interaction with people in the Gospel, especially the healing passages, makes vivid the nature of our interaction with God and how grace, faith, hope, love, etc work. Particularly, there is the emphasis on the role of our effort, even the slightest of it. Jesus says that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains and nothing will be impossible for us (Mtt 17,20). This explains the inestimable role of faith. The connection of human faith with God’s power in today’s gospel happened through other human beings who brought the sick people to Jesus. These were the intercessors in this case. They lifted the sick ones to God when they could not lift themselves. Moreover, what was needed for the divine connection was a mere touching of the hem of Jesus’s garment. Something from us moves God to act on our behalf. That is why the saying that God governs the world but Prayer governs God” attributed to St John Chrysostom makes a lot of sense to me.
Grace is God’s free gift, but faith confesses grace. This reality must, however, be expressed in terms of a vital relationship between human being and God. St Augustine says: “God, who made us without us, will not save us without us.” This metaphysical reality is not the same with the case of Pelagius who was known with the heresy of Pelagianism—an overestimation of the human will that downgraded the role of grace. Something worth noting here though is the saying that “virtue lies in the middle” is ad rem to our journey of faith. The connection I am writing about, which is required of us, is neither a dependence on our own righteousness and effort nor a carefree attitude to grace. But as in the case of the connection in today’s gospel, we must recognise the importance of our own little effort to connect with God, to move God. Be it an act of faith by way of expressing our dependence on God in moments of difficulty or trusting that God above all suffices. It is the same even in our human existence. Certain things that are due to us require our little effort and sometimes we miss great opportunities for taking things for granted. I pray that we may always tap the motivational force in us in order to achieve something great in our lives and for others.
