I Take off the MASK!

Grief and Healing - Download the eBook

The world doesn’t know it. But faith is far more real than the kind of reality many people think.

It is faith that helps us see what others fail to see. It is faith that makes it possible to find a way where others find no way at all.

In eternity, we will see better, and we will understand more how faith is indeed tangible, more tangible than the knowledge possessed by the wise. Faith enables us to make sense of things, to value things for their true worth. It sees true beauty. It knows which things are passing and which things truly remain.

Faith is not wishful thinking. It is not a fantasy based on our mere imaginings. For how could our fallen mind even imagine the things of faith? It is like a man born blind trying to imagine the light!

No. We know faith only because the eyes of our spirit have been opened for us.

Faith is more real than we think. With it comes new horizons we could never have dreamt or imagined. With it comes wisdom. With it comes the power even to move mountains into the sea!

For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. -Matthew 17:20

Miracles are not done to produce faith. It is faith that makes miracles happen! – Jocelyn Soriano

Faith is an open hand, willing and able to receive the many blessings being poured upon it. It is an open window, able to let the sunshine in, allowing the fresh air to come. It is the door of the heart through which the love of God can freely come to dwell.

Many times, we wait for miracles to have us believe. When we do not see any, we say that there is no reason to believe anyway.

But miracles need even faith. Miracles are always there, coming down from heaven. But how do we see it without the eyes of faith?

He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. -Matthew 13:58

You cannot let the weight of this world outshine the light that you carry within. – Full of Grace

It isn’t easy to explain one’s faith. But it is like a light that illuminates everything in our life that’s dark and cold and bitter. We may not always have the words to describe it, but would we rather lose our faith just because we cannot express it the way the world wants us to?

Would we rather go back to the darkness where we were? To meaninglessness and loneliness, and to hurting the ones we love?

Would we rather live being merely swayed by our passions – without hope, without true love, without purity in our heart?

What kind of life would we rather live? What kind of existence would we rather go back to?

How does one even begin to explain what faith really is?

Faith is not about explaining things. It is about living, and breathing and walking in that light that is upon us. But we will suffer in the light. Sometimes our souls will be squeezed to dry down to the very deepest roots. We will wither and grow weary to where we cannot take one step more. The light will fade to the faintest glimmer. Nothing more than a grain of sand upon the shore. But the light will never disappear. This walk of faith comes with a promise. The promise that we will never be abandoned. – Full of Grace Film

All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. -John 1:3-4, 14 (WEB)

There are times when we may wonder why Jesus did not simply show Himself and His miracles to all who did not believe.

But then another question quickly comes to mind: Would people believe then?

When Jesus still walked the earth with His disciples, He did many miracles. He even brought a dead person back to life! Aside from this, He healed the blind and many who are sick. He multiplied bread to feed thousands. He stopped a storm. He turned water into wine!

But did everyone believe in Him? No! But these even made those who did not believe to become even more stubborn in their unbelief. They plotted for His death! Will not the same thing happen today as it did then?

There is a different miracle that is needed – the miracle of the heart. It is being open to God’s true kingdom, which is love. We may not see Jesus now, but God can grant us the gift of faith.

“If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.” – Luke 16:31

“If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say,’We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” – John 9:41

“It’s true that we can’t see God with our bodily eyes. But God becomes visible to us through faith. We can’t touch God with our hands, but we see Him clearly in each of his works. Believe me. I’m speaking to you sincerely: I used to believe it was impossible ever to fall in love with a God who is unseen; with someone who can’t be hugged and touched. But today, I can affirm with my hand over my heart, that God completely makes up for that sacrifice. You feel that love so much, and those caresses from Our Lord that is seems God is there by your side. I feel Him so intimately united to me, that I want nothing more, except the beatific vision in heaven. I feel I’m filled with God, and then I hold Him close to my heart and ask Him to make me experience the perfections of His love. There’s no separation between us. Wherever I go, God is with me in my poor heart. That’s the little house where I dwell; it’s my heaven here on earth. I live with God; and despite being on walks, we converse with each other without anyone being able to surprise us or interrupt us. If you knew Him enough, you would love Him. If you were with Him for one hour, you’d know just what heaven on earth is.” – St. Teresa of Jesus of the Andes

Many times, in our anxious attempt to predict or control the future, we lose sight of the valuable things that are there for us in the present moment. Even if all we have at present are trials and heart wrenching difficulties, even these have treasures that they can share with us.

Instead of losing much time worrying about a future we can never control, let us make the most of each moment that is being given us.

Embrace each joyful hour, taste the sweetness of each passing day, treasure even the tears that fall, even the anguish of a heart that is broken and bruised.

You will never pass this way again. Live each moment fully that you may keep what’s truly precious for all eternity.

If all of life were sunshine,
Our faces would be fain
To feel once more upon them
The cooling plash of rain.
—Henry Van Dyke

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 (WEB) For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…