Faith powers our prayers.

Rev. Fr. Achilleus Ile Adole CSSp.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today in the gospel Jesus used a a drastic measure, if you like, to demonstrate and teach us the power of faith in the prayers we make. It is the famous story of the cursing of the fig tree.

According to the gospel, Jesus looked for fruits from this fig tree when it was not its season to produce fruits. This shows us that the attention was not on the fact that it didn’t produce fruits. However, Jesus was in the process of teaching his disciples the power of faith in prayers.

It is stated that when Jesus did not find any fruits on this fig tree, he cursed it to wither, and when they were returning from their journey the next day, the disciples actually saw that the fig tree had withered.

The withering of this fig tree, presented a perfect timing for Jesus to teach his disciples on the power of faith in prayer. Jesus then said to them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will….”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God answers our prayers especially when done with a faithful heart without doubts. Whenever we approach him in prayer, let us come to him like a child who comes to his father and requests anything from him without doubt that the father would give him as long as it is for the good of the child. Believe more, trust more, and do not doubt.

May the holy spirit inspire us and strengthen us in our faith, and may we receive the answers to the prayers we make, through Christ our Lord. Amen!