Saturday 11 August
Matthew 17:14-20 • St Clare (Memorial)
The Pope has declared a Year of Faith starting on 14 October and running to the end of the liturgical year 2013! This year will, for sure, be a time of rich and abundant blessing for us all. A time to renew and refresh our faith, deepen our prayer life, contemplate the mystery of our faith and get to know the Scriptures better.
But, as James says, faith needs to be supported by our actions. Indeed, faith without deeds is dead (Jas. 2:26). Regarding these deeds or actions, we tend, quite rightly, to think in terms of serving the poor, giving to charity, being nice, kind and obliging, etc. God knows, a joyful, happy and giving person is a good witness.
The opposite causes scandal and gives offence, as the following story illustrates. A Catholic bookshop in Dublin was humming and bustling with shoppers. The staff were congenial, warm and friendly. There was a lovely atmosphere in the shop – positive, upbeat and fitting for a Catholic bookshop about its business. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, an elderly priest came into the shop. He was agitated, vexed and in an angry mood. He went up to a young male shop assistant and began to berate him because a book he had ordered had not come in. The young man was shaken and taken aback by the priest’s anger. He dealt with the angry cleric as best he could until the man left in a huff, having well and truly shattered the peace of the shop.
In Ireland, despite the recent child abuse scandals, there remains a real sense of deference and even fear of the clergy. No one felt able to challenge the priest, calm him down or stand up to him and his angry mood. Consider, if you will, that maybe his demonstration of anger could have been matched by an equally powerful demonstration of God’s grace to quell the storm. Perhaps a prayer by someone in the shop might have delivered this poor, misguided priest of his angry mood. If faith can move mountains, then it can also stand up to moody and angry priests, or anybody for that matter.
Lord, with faith nothing is impossible. Teach me to stand firm in the name of Jesus against the works of the flesh, both in myself and in others, overcoming the work of the enemy by the power of the name, the blood and the cross.
Habakkuk 1:12-2:4 • Psalm 9:8-13
Matthew 17:14-20
Daily Reflections
Subscribe to Bible Alive today, and read Daily Reflections wherever you are!
Can't find a book?
Fill out our enquiry form to register interest in a particular Catholic/ Christian book.
Holy Cross Parcels
Make a difference by making a donation and buying a Holy Cross Parcel. Click here
Twitter and Facebook
Pope Francis Special Bumper Edition of Faith Today
Click here to read Joanna Moorhead's blog from the Conclave and the Inauguration
Free Faith Pack
FREE Faith Pack
worth over £30/€50!!
with every new subscription to
Bible Alive or Faith Today.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Faith Today Trial Subscription
Try out Faith Today for three months free of charge. Many began receiving Faith Today this way and have been with us for years.
Trial Bible Alive Subscription
Try out Bible Alive for three months free of charge. Many began receiving Bible Alive this way and have been with us for years.
Give it a go today!
Walk With Me
Walk with Me is a prayer and scripture journey for the seasons of Advent, Lent and Easter.
Alive Design – Wedding Stationery
Catholic Today Newspaper
Catholic Today is the newspaper for the Archdiocese of Birmingham with the latest Birmingham Catholic news and videocasts.
Christian Publications
Bible Alive - Subscription
Latest Catholic Articles
Daily Reflections
Bible Alive daily reflections are written in an accessible and warm style inviting you to penetrate and plumb the depths of the scripture reading of the day.
Latest Daily Bible ReflectionFree Catalogue
