I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God

29 JULY (Jn 11,19-27)

The end of the Gospel according to John chapter after chapter is to lead to the acquisition of the perfect truth on Lord Jesus. With divine and spiritual wisdom, never with fleshly and human wisdom, every episode in the life of Jesus is narrated because a powerful light needed to clear up the true face of the Lord is hidden in it. This true face is revealed to us after the last sign that Risen Jesus gives to his disciples in the Upper Room. Jesus is the Son of God, the Giver of true life.

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may (come to) believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name (Jn 20,24-31).

This truth had already been anticipated by the Apostle John in his first Letter. Jesus is the eternal life of God that is given to us through the flesh of Christ the Lord.

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life – for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us – what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete (1Jn 1,1-4).

Today, the Apostle John reveals us the faith of Martha, the friend of Jesus together with her sister Mary and brother Lazarus, by now dead for four days and that Jesus is preparing to rise again. This faith is nearly perfect, “Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world.” Marta still lacks the experience of the Cross, of the pierced side, of Jesus Lamb of the new life. When this experience is completed, then nothing more will be missing to her faith.

And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (But) even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Martha forces us to put a truth in our hearts. There is no faith without experience with Lord Jesus. Since the experience is fulfilled in history, never might there rise a perfect faith in a heart without history. Jesus does not give his disciples a treatise on his person and on his mission to be learned by heart. He does not teach his disciples catechism, the already defined and perfect doctrine, without gaps. Jesus lives the catechism that every day he learns from the Father in his daily history. He realizes all the doctrine on Him and teaches it to his disciples showing it accomplished in his flesh. As history progresses, even the faith progresses. A minister of the Word must not teach catechism. He must live it and living he teaches it. He must show the truth in his flesh, in his daily history. By showing it he teaches it. This path must be lived by all the disciples of the Lord. Life is their catechism.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us this way.