2 May 2022
Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
It is a common question asked by those who desire to deepen their faith, to grow in their relationship with God: what does He want me to do? Jesus answers, “…believe in the one he sent.” Believe in Jesus. What does that mean?
The word “believe” means “to have faith or confidence” in something or someone, but further back in history the word meant something more along the lines of “to hold dear” or “to love.” “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” Jesus says at the Last Supper, “You have faith in God; have faith also in me,” (John 14:1). That is God’s work: that we believe in the one He sent, that we have faith in His Son, for when we do that we are trusting in His plan of salvation. John teaches us that Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1-3) and when we believe in Jesus we believe in God’s Word: we do what Adam and Eve failed to do when they let the seed of doubt planted by the serpent take root in their hearts: “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1).
What can we do to accomplish the works of God? Jesus says not to work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, “…which the Son of Man will give you.” For as Scripture says, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God,” (Matthew 4:4), and Jesus is that Word who tells us today that He will give us bread.
Do you believe Him: do you have faith in Him, confidence in Him, to you love Him and holy Him dear? If so then you are doing the works of God: you are working for the food that endures for eternal life.