BELIEVING IS SEEING

Third Sunday of Lent

John 4:41, 42

Many more began to believe in Him because of His word… “for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

My wife told me that she is pregnant. I did not believe at first. I asked her how did she know. That is when she showed me the pregnancy test result. If we do not see it, does it still exist? My friend told me that I passed our final exam and we are now candidates for graduation. I did not believe at first. I asked him how did he know. He just told me to go to the office and check on the list posted on the door. If we do not see it, do we believe it happened?

I cannot see the air, and yet I live for I breathe. That is the most important proof that it exist. I cannot see my brain, and yet I think, feel and love. That is the most important evidence that I do have a brain. I cannot see God, and yet all around us, we see beauty, love, happiness and life. That is the most important proof that He exist. It is not easy for a lot of people to put faith in something he does not see because we tend to put faith only in what we can see. As humans, we can merely sense the existence of a higher Being, a greater coherence than ourselves, but we cannot see it, for now face to face.

The people of Jerusalem had seen God in Jesus’ face, and yet they did not believe in Him. Up to now, most of them still wait for the coming of the Lord. The people of Samaria is different. They had seen Him and believed in Him, not just because He says so, but also because “of His word” that they “have heard for (them)selves.” He came to give this ‘living water’. From us it will go out to help other people. The world is full of people who need spiritual help. But we cannot have new life from Jesus until we ask for it. Before we ask, we must want it. Before we want it, we must believe that He lives up to this day – loving us and caring for us.

Almighty Father, the well-spring of life, pour into our hearts the living water of Your grace, that refreshed by You, we may live this day in steadfast reliance on the strength You give; through our Savior Jesus Christ.

“Your living water, we openly receive
Your eternal Words, we fervently believe.”

If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.