Yesterday, in chapter 7, we looked at the humble faith of both a centurion and a sinful woman. Today we read chapter 8 of Luke’s Gospel and see the importance of having a heart of faith.
Parables, for those with a Heart of Faith
“he said, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'”
Many are puzzled when Jesus tells people not to speak of the miracles they see, or in this case when he says “so that seeing they may not see.” Why would Jesus mask his message to some?
I would have to do more research to know what the Church and Saints have to say, but my sense after reading the rest of Chapter 8 of Luke is that it is because you have to want to see.
You need to have a heart of faith. A heart of faith is what will allow you to see the miraculous, to understand the parables, and to bring forth fruit.
The Parable of the Sower
“And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Luke 8:15
Faith is not a one time action either. As the Parable of the Sower teaches us, it requires patience. But with patience and a good heart, we can grow and bear fruit, spreading the Gospel. The patience is also important, because when sowing seed of the Gospel, you often don’t know when the growth will come. You can only pray for those who you share and have faith.
“Where is Your Faith?”
Making the lesson of trust and having a heart of faith clear, the parables are followed by the story of the disciples boat caught in a storm as Jesus is asleep.
“And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!‘ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?‘”
Luke 8:24-25
Then even the winds and the sea obeyed Him, and the apostles were amazed yet afraid. It is amazing for the world to obey Jesus, but could we?
We are all perishing at some rate or another, so Jesus’ question could be to all of us. Where is your faith?
Healing Faith
On his way to heal a sick girl, a crowd presses in on Jesus. A woman who is suffering and in pain with a hemorrhage for 12 years is able to reach an touch even just his cloak (Mk 5). In that moment she is healed. Interestingly, Jesus asks, “Who was it that touched me?”
Did Jesus really not know he healed someone? Unlikely, so why did He ask this? To show us a beautiful example of faith.
And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” – Luke 8:48
During all of this commotion, Jesus is told that the girl he was about to heal had died before he arrived. Again, why would God allow this death so soon, as he was en route?
But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” – Luke 8:50
The hemorrhaging woman was healed by her faith. Jairus’ daughter was healed through her father’s intercessory faith.
If healing is possible for them through faith, then it will also be possible for us as we are perishing. Our faith, like Jairus, could even contribute to the healing of others.
Tell No One, Share Everything
In the final line of the chapter, Jesus tells the Jairus’ family to “tell no one what had happened”. We see this show up quite a bit in the Gospels, where Jesus asks people not to share what they’ve seen. Why is that? It sounds contrary to sharing the good news and making disciples.
But what if “tell no one” is actually in hope that more people will have purer hearts of faith. It would be one thing for people to come to faith after seeing a healthy woman who was severely sick for so many years. But I wonder, would it be better for them in the long run if they are able to believe through genuine faith?
It reminds me of my favorite line of the classic hymn, Tantum Ergo:
Præstet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.or
“faith will provide supplement
when senses fail.”
Having a heart of faith allows us to see and understand when God speaks to us. When our five senses cannot explain everything to us, we can rely on faith to supplement. Also, with patient faith, we can heal and be healed.
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