Lamentations 3:22-23
The LORD's Compassions are New Every Morning
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
John 3:17
God Sent His Son Not to Condemn, but to Save
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Matthew 14:22-36
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Matthew 15:21-28
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
Jesus teaches us much about faith in the four gospels...He is the Man of Faith...To me, faith is a process...Faith takes time...For me, I just did not wake up one morning, and say I have faith, or I am full of faith today...Each day is different, and I have good faith days, and there are days that I have doubts...Each morning, I think of the God, Jesus, and their great LOVE, and compassions...I also think about faith and my personal faith...Faith is not a static thing in one's life...Faith for me, are like the waves of the oceans...Faith has its ebbs and flows...
In the verses above Jesus is with two people of faith...One is Peter, His Disciple...The other is a Canaanite woman...The Canaanites were not looked upon positively by the Jews...Peter is trying to walk on water, like His Master, and the Canaanite woman has ask Jesus to heal her daughter...Now, Peter has been with Jesus day in and day out...And yet, Jesus tells Peter, “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”...On the other hand, Jesus tells the Canaanite woman (and not a Jew herself), “Woman, you have great faith!...Your request is granted.”...And her daughter was healed at that moment...
These stories help me, because I know St. Peter would be blessed later with great faith...On the day on the lake, his faith was not quite there yet...And Jesus was only an arms length away from His leading Disciple...
My faith is not even close to St. Peter's...As I said, faith is a process...And as I think about the LORD and faith, certain things come to mind...I think of words and things like humble, loving, grace, forgiveness, accepting, mercy, helping, grateful, thankful...Faith has taught me not to less judgmental...And even though I am not good at these things, I know there is One who is who did not come to condemn me...No, He came to save me...So, I am thankful of Him...And I am grateful for the process of faith...