Seeing is Believing

“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”Jesus answered and said to them,“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
-John 6: 29-29


Reflecting on today’s gospel from John, I’m struck by the simplicity of what our task is on earth ; “that you believe in the one he sent.” To accomplish the works of God is to believe in the one he sent.”

The problem that I occasionally have, like Thomas, is to believe without seeing. I know that I’m not alone in feeling this way at times, just reading the gospel I find that the disciples who were around Jesus every day and were witnesses to the many miracles and wonderful words had a hard time believing in Jesus’ Resurrection. Even when He appeared to them they didn’t believe what they were seeing. Some needed a sign.

The distractions of the world make it even harder for me to clearly see the Lord at times. I bet if I stand on a street corner in Boston giving away $10 bills that I would have people refuse or simply walk by and not believe that I’m giving them something for free without any attachments. I’m amazed at the reactions of motorists who I yield to at an intersection when I motion to them to go. Some are mesmerized and don’t move because they don’t believe what they are seeing.

The bodily eyes see only physical and material things. But God is a Spirit, and to see Him we must be born, as John 3: 5-6 says, of the Spirit, and then not only will our spiritual eyes see Him, but we shall also reign with Him. When we repent for our sins and turn to God is when the Spirit of God works in us and we are born anew.

When we believe and continue to do God’s work we become a sign that points others to Christ.