Heb 11:1-7 Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11 Mk 9:2-13

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

After reading the passages for today, I see that faith is a crucial concept that is relevant to all of these verses. In fact, faith is the “realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). It involves a willingness to not only reach out to God but to also allow God to touch our hearts and spirits. It is a decision, a conscious one, as a matter of fact, to accept that a being, invisible to our physical eyes, is really in control of our lives and much more. It requires us to override our basic instincts that the physical matter is the only thing we can trust.  In the book of Mark, we see the disciples experience what most of us today would consider to be a part of a wild dream or an active imagination (Mk 9:2-13). During the course of the night, Peter, James and John saw Jesus transfigure in front of them, heard the voice of God come down upon them, and also saw Elijah and Moses. Yet after this experience, the disciples come to believe that what they had seen was true and that Elijah would be the first to come and to restore all things on Earth.

In the same way, today let us be challenged to strive to praise God, no matter how visible he is in our lives. At times we will experience a divine intervention, or a miracle: some clear indication that he is evident and present. Yet, there will be times when we feel like we are alone in our lives; faith will require us to step out of our comfort zone and to accept that God loves us and that he is there, even when we don’t want to believe those things. When we challenge our faith, we allow it to grow and we are able to strengthen our spiritual bodies.  When we can strengthen our spiritual bodies, it will allow us to truly enjoy God.

A pastor who has greatly influenced me once said, “Do less, and enjoy God more.” I want live those words of advice and remember that faith does not come from seeing what the physical world can offer, but that it first comes from the heart. May today bring peace and blessings to you all.