If we can say that God is almighty, it is because, unlike ordinary mortals, He is self-sufficient. Whatever our social status, we will always need something that justifies proactive steps, recurring requests, quests for certified information, or even specific needs in all areas, during an existence where Men is never self-sufficient, unlike a God who knows everything, who can do everything, and who knows how to show affection because He is compassionate. Indeed, if Jews, Judeo-Christians, and Muslims believe like many others in one God, they do not all believe in a God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If on the basis of the 5th^[1] and 6th^[1] verse of the 34^th chapter of the book of Chemot (Exodus) which is an extract from the written Torah called Pentateuch^[2], and the 171^st verse of Surah 4^[3], Jews and Muslims in particular can say with certainty that there is only one God who is merciful, given that before the beginning of the surahs of the Holy Book (Quran), it is very well mentioned, "In the name of Allah the Most Merciful", for a good part of Christians or Judeo-Christians on the other hand, faith is based on a God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This means that: if Judaism and Islam in particular recognize one God who is merciful, some Christians for their part, recognize one God who is merciful, but whose mercy is manifested concretely not through the First Person of the Trinity, but rather the Second; that is to say, the resurrected Christ. The same one who suffered, was crucified, who was buried like all those who come to the end of their earthly pilgrimage; The same one who experienced the abode of the dead, to proclaim the good news of salvation to the righteous who preceded him, and who were in “Abraham’s arms” ^[4]; The one who came back to life three days later, to then return to the source of salvation from which He left to come and become flesh among Mens, and from where He will return to judge the living and the dead^[5].

When Jesus was on a cross, it was not God the Father who was being crucified. Image: Pixabay/August 2014

It is on the basis of their faith in a God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit that those who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord can say that God has feelings, but it is not the First Person of the mystery of the Holy Trinity who feels them, but rather the One who experienced suffering and death. Indeed, when Jesus was on a cross, it was not God the Father who was being crucified; it was Jesus who was lamenting on the cross, and who even took up the second verse of Psalm 22 ^[6] of David that Saint Matthew reports to us in the 46^th verse of the 27^th chapter of his Gospel: "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, My God, My God, why did you abandon me?" (The GOOD NEWS BIBLE with Deuterocanonical Books 2004). Furthermore, it is this same Jesus who healed the sick by the power of the Holy Spirit which proceeds from Him and from the Father for some Christians. It is He who brought joy to Mens during His public life, and who found Himself after, crucified on a cross without Father Assistance, because something greater was going to happen three days later, for the salvation of humanity; namely, His resurrection, or His victory over death.  

If Christ is risen, for Christians there is nothing impossible. All those who configure themselves to Him through baptism, will also enter into this divine life where He is the mediator between the Father and Mens. Jesus knows everything, because He is of divine Essence. And it is only when Men is configured to this divine life, (with the precision that there are other ways of being configured to God), that he can access the truths relating to the way in which he lives his personal relationship with God. Indeed, Christian families are numerous, but the ways of living the Christian faith are different, even if at the base, they have in common the resurrection of Christ, which makes of all those who believe in Him, and who freely express the desire to be baptized, Mens saved by faith. A faith in a unique God who manifests Himself in many ways, during an existence dotted with moments of uncertainties and anger. Times where we don't always know what to do, or how to react to a given situation. Moments of lack and doubt that only God can fill and dispel, based on the relationship we have with Him.

While some, especially Jews and Muslims among others, address God directly on the basis of the Holy Scriptures which are Word of God, some Christians, for their part, also use the Holy Scriptures which are also Word of God, with this particularity that it is Jesus Himself, in addition of the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Christ is a path that leads to God among many others. He is one of the ways that allows us to escape from uncertainties and distressing situations, which sometimes lead us to develop hatred towards our fellow men. Image: hbieser/ pixabay-June 2019

In the 14^th chapter of his Gospel, from verse 1 to 11, the apostle Saint John say:  “Do not let your hearts be trouble.” You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t not where you are going; so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.  Phillips said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “don’t you know me, Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father?” Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I have say to you, I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least, believe on the evidence of the works themselves. (New International Version)

It is not a question of make people believe that all those who want to go to God must become Christians. Christ is a path that leads to God among many others. He is one of the ways that allows us to escape from uncertainties and distressing situations, which sometimes lead us to develop hatred towards our fellow Mens. A hatred and even an anger that can certainly be justified, but which cannot always be explained because we do not always have the right data, that He is the only one capable of giving us or letting us know, in particular through sincere prayer, in a silent intimacy that does not necessarily require the absence of deafening noises, which very often are not at all innocent. Saint Luke says in the 36^th verse of the 21^st chapter of his Gospel this: “But stay alert at all times, praying that you will have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (New American Standard Bible) In other words, do not neglect restorative sleep, and do not worry about means of pressure and other intimidations of various origins; pray in moments of joy and especially of sorrow, because these are moments when God reveals Himself much more.

The Life of Faith and Role Models

In the life of faith, as in all other areas of life, choosing role models is always essential, even if we prefer to clarify that instead of identifying with others, we should rather seek to be a better version of ourselves; that is to say, copying good examples that do not make us carbon copies, but that contribute to making us unique stories that should above all not be confused with those of others, because the aim of a testimony of life or faith, is to contribute to shaping special people who will strive to keep a good state of mind in every circumstance of life despite everything, in addition to positively impacting other’s lives, while remaining themselves; that is to say, a solution of temporal and particular well-being among many others, with the aim of helping others and especially the next generations to always find solutions to their problems, and share as much as possible their testimonies and even their knowledge with other people, so that yesterday benedictions, support the hope of those who are still on the way, and who are also called to do the same. And on this subject, two schools of faith which results from faith in one God interest us in particular: that of Saint Joseph, and that of the Most Holy Virgin Mary.

Although they performed actions that date back to the time of ancient Rome (between 27 BC and 476 AD), they continue to speak in the present century, because, as the 9^th verse of the 1^st chapter of the small book of Ecclesiastes says, "What has happened before will happen again. What has been done before will be done again. There is nothing new in the whole world." (The GOOD NEWS BIBLE with Deuterocanonical Books 2004).

If before there were people who experienced moments of doubt, today there will always be. And for every problem or distressing or ambivalent situation, there will always be solutions because among those who came before us, there were also those who found soothing solutions to similar problems. The fact that we live in a century that evolves at the rate of constant technological innovations won't change anything. What has always been will continue to repeat itself, and even in a different way with modernization, but not without the necessary solutions, in a century where the imbalance between words and listening is astounding. A century that lives to the rhythm of Buzz, slander, beneficial informations, toxic informations, and other stressful uncertainties. A century where before realizing that the action you have committed has already been published on social networks, the information has already travelled the world, while leading to debates of opinion that sometimes go in all directions, to the point of even creating avoidable ruptures. A century to whom Saint Joseph and the Most Holy Virgin Mary propose in all circumstances, firstly, what an artist we particularly appreciate calls, "le respect du silence” ^[7]. A contemplative attitude thanks to which God can allow us not to act or react prematurely, during certain circumstances of life. Secondly, and always in the logic of silence, the taking of a step back in certain circumstances of life, in order to give God time to help us understand better; and thirdly, the time to add to the first acts, namely "le respect du silence ^[7]" and the taking of a step back, other concrete and assumed acts, obviously after having been edified, or when we think that it is the right moment. Three essential elements that can be summed up in what we call, prayer in a fruitful silence that persists despite influences and distractions, like poets and other artists who have this capacity to abstract themselves a little from an insidious reality, the time to listen to their inner self, then return there, in order to perform other necessary and useful acts.

Models of life of faith or prayer are lights of divine origin that illuminate the dark corners of a life punctuated by moments of uncertainties and endless anger. Image: CCXpistiavos/ pixabay – September 2017

The Gospels of Saints Matthew and Luke tell us the story of a virgin betrothed to a carpenter, obviously with the consent of the virgin who on an ordinary day that can also be described as extraordinary given what follows, mysteriously became pregnant to the great surprise of the carpenter. Saint Matthew tells us in the 19^th verse of his first chapter this: the carpenter was an upright man who chose to act discreetly, so as not to harm the "virgin" or the virgin, since he was confused. He therefore chose to remain silent, because if he spoke, the virgin would be stoned, without anyone knowing what really happened. The carpenter therefore chose to rest his emotion, or rather his ambivalent feeling, in silence. We do not know if he asked the virgin with whom she had cheated on him, or whether he asked her how this was possible as the virgin herself had asked the Angel who announced to her that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit. All we know is what Saint Matthew told us: the 20^th verse of the 1^st chapter of the Gospel of Saint Matthew tells us that "while he was thinking about this, an angel of the LORD appeared to him in dream and said, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived. She will have a son, and you will name him. Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. “Verse 24 specifies that, "when Joseph woke up, he married Mary, as the angel of the LORD had told him to do." (The GOOD NEWS BIBLE with Deuterocanonical Books 2004)

Models of life of faith or prayer are lights of divine origin that illuminate the dark corners of a life punctuated by moments of uncertainties and endless anger. Men needs a God who is Himself aware that without Him, Men is nothing. This is why, through models of faith, He strengthens the faith of some, so that they too, in many ways, can strengthen that of those who are going through or will certainly go through difficult times, that require or will require testimonies of virtuous life, which give reasons for hope, in addition to allowing those who place their trust in God to achieve satisfactory objectives, or to brave trials that will strengthen their faith, and that of others.

Whoever chooses to go to Jesus through the Most Holy Virgin Mary or Saint Joseph, does so because both are already found within Jesus who is God. Image : Darte/ pixabay – November 2016

What God wills, Men can do if He believes, and if he wants.

Men is god, because God is God. If Men can, it is because God wills; and if God wills, Men can be a testimony of life in other’s lives, if He wants. He can become or be a person who can be trusted, because his faith is built on a rock that does not make him equal to God, but one of His helping hands in a world of difficult realities that everybody cannot understand except God alone, and those to whom He grants in a special way, this grace of being paths of truth that lead to God, just like Saint Joseph and the Most Holy Virgin Mary, who are models of prayer, silent life, and reasoned obedience to be imitated. All those who have recourse to their intercession will always have solutions to their problems. And the fact that we share this meditation through their intercession, is a proof that specifies that those who want to go to God through Jesus do well, just like those who want to go to Jesus through the Most Holy Virgin Mary or Saint Joseph. Christ, who is the way of life, makes all those who believe in Him, paths of life in the service of the source of Salvation that He Is. There is no path too long, nor too short, and even less shortcuts. Whoever chooses to go to Jesus through the Most Holy Virgin Mary or Saint Joseph does so because both are already found within Jesus, who is God.

The generosity of the Holy Spirit is not concerned with human dissatisfactions or limitations that are limited to inveigh or even desacralizing what we have not had the grace to know, and even less to understand. This is why this boundless generosity is materialized by the freedom that people have to live their faith where they want, and how they want, because they are free, and because their joy depends on the exercise of a freedom that involves making choices that contribute first and foremost to their well-being, and that of others. The world needs men and women who contribute to helping others get out of distressing situations in a multitude of morally acceptable ways. It is not only a matter of taking care of oneself before taking care of others; it is also, and sometimes, a matters of praying only for others because it is also a way of praying for ourselves.

It is in prayer that we understand what we need to understand, and not what other people want us to believe, impose on us, or lead us to believe in order to achieve particular goals that we do not share. Prayer therefore allows us not only to persist on a yes that is yes, but also on a no that is no, in a world where ignorance, determination, intimidations, distractions and indecisions are constant realities. It is when we are a person of prayer that we have the possibility of emerging from naivety, ignorance, uncertainties, ambivalent feelings and anger. It is in prayer that we understand everything that happens not only in dreams, but also in real time. This is the reason why when a woman or even a man suspects his or her husband or wife of cheating on him or her, he or she will have palpable proof, if it is really the case.

The people of today's world must take Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary as examples. They are people who, like Jesus, used to pray and meditate in their hearts, so as not to remain in ignorance, ambivalent feelings, uncertainties, and anger. One of the particularities of the Gospel according to Saint Luke, especially regarding the agony of Jesus, is the supplement of the 43^rd verse of its 22^nd chapter: "an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him." (Holman Christian standard Bible)

It must be said, for the sake of clarity, that in this particular context, Jesus was praying during His agony. It shows how difficult some circumstances in life can be, to the point of requiring, as in most cases, divine courage that does not come from Men. The Apostle Saint Paul tells us in verses 12 to 15 of the 2^nd chapter of his epistle to the Philippians that we must continue to work for our salvation with the fear of God. He goes on to say that, it is the action of God that produces in us the will and the action, because He wants our good. And the 14^th verse asks us to do everything without complaint or discussion, in order to be blameless and pure.

While emphasizing that every context of life involves making free choices and taking responsibility for them, we continue by stating that it is God who helps Men in everything He has chosen to do or undertakes to do, thanks to the ideas and the will to implement these choices, which are of divine origin, and accessible through prayer.

The life of faith is a life of freedom and respect for freedoms. In order not to remain in uncertainties, anger and ambivalent feelings, we must meditate more on the attitudes adopted by Saint Joseph and the Most Holy Virgin Mary during a life that required courage, reasoned obedience, and constant meditation while remaining silent in prayer. Image : jeanvdmeulen/ pixabay – November 2017

The Benefits of Silence in Prayer with the Saints

It is through prayer that we can remain serene. It is during prayer that we have, and will continue to have, the support we need to remain firm in our faith and achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.

Men always tends to seek the solution to his problems outside himself, while it lies within him. If no prayer is greater than the desire to do good and persevere in it, it is because with circumstances, Men acquires a certain experience which leads him to be more cautious in certain circumstances. The adoption of a set of attitudes that are part of the logic of silence and prayer, just like Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a necessity that should not be confused with inaction, when one has the power to fight against injustices. Acting on the margins of justice, when one has the means and mental faculties to do so, is evidence of guilt concealed under a form of hypocrisy specific to the world in which we live. It is a silence tinged with dishonesty and pettiness which creates uncertainty and plunges people into desperate confusion. By tolerating injustice or by showing through concrete actions that one is oneself an apostle of this lack of justice, one unofficially and knowingly fights justice with slogans that reduce the truth to a utopia whose manifestation and effectiveness depend on the will of those who have the capacity to manipulate it as they see fit. Such silence is a haunting that leads to death, while encouraging certain lost causes to adopt a pernicious and transmissible radicalism.

Doubt or a feeling of ambivalence is not bad in itself. What is bad is remaining in doubt, to the point of losing faith and even life, even if it must be said that for those who have the grace to still be alive, there is always hope.

Contemplative silence, following the example of Saint Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a means by which those who believe in God can achieve results that do not confine them on their certainties or uncertainties, but lead them to abandon themselves completely into the hands of The One who always has plans for the happiness of all those who fear Him, or who choose to trust Him, so that He may always allow them to combine faith and reason in specific circumstances, that deepen their personal relationship with God.

Also read : Relatioship of trust : the need to believe in God without having seen, so as not to be satisfied with seeing before believing.

Men is free to express his feelings, even with anger if necessary, while ensuring that the feeling of bitterness does not take over his reason, but rather leads him laboriously, into a moment of silence so that He who has experienced all forms of suffering, helps him to raise his head and be above the disturbed considerations that have the capacity to make him remain on the wrong paths. What did God say to Cain? The writers of the book of Genesis tell us in the 7^th verse of their 4^th chapter that after having turned His gaze away from Cain and his offering which was bad according to God, unlike that of Abel which reflected the purity of a sincere heart, seeing that Cain was irritated by the fact that God had preferred and especially accepted the offering of his brother and not his own, God said to him this: "If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling; but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it.” (The GOOD NEWS BIBLE with Deuterocanonical Books 2004)

The life of faith is a life of freedom and respect for freedoms. In order not to remain in uncertainties, anger and ambivalent feelings, we must meditate more on the attitudes adopted by Saint Joseph and the Most Holy Virgin Mary during a life that required courage, reasoned obedience, and constant meditation while remaining silent in prayer, waiting for the One who knows everything to enlighten consciences during a set of very specific circumstances, which require remaining in a silence that even noise and other oppressive influences cannot alter. A silence that allows us to understand everything, even what noises don't want us to know.

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Note:

[2] As stated in the introduction to the first volume of the Babylonian Talmud published in 1831, when Moses received from God the precepts of the law with their explanations on Mount Sinai, it was not only for the purpose of reporting the text of the written law, but also to learn by heart, from the mouth of the Eternal, the interpretation of this text commonly called oral law or collection of particular prescriptions explained with precision. The Talmud or the oral law contains more minute details on the practice of each precept and ceremonies.

Quranic reference

[3] O people of the scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the true. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, “Three”; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs. (SAHIH INTERNATIONAL)

Biblical references

[1] The LORD came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and pronounced his holy name, the LORD. The LORD then passed in front of him and called out, “I the LORD, am a God who is full of compassion and pity, who is not easily angered and who shows great love and faithfulness. » (Exodus 34, 5-6. The GOOD NEWS BIBLE with Deuterocanonical Books 2004)

[4] Now it happen that the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s arms; and the rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades he raised his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his arms.  (Luke 16, 22-23. New American standard Bible)

[5] In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because he is coming to rule as king, I solemnly urge you to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience.  2 Timothy 4, 1-2 (The GOOD NEWS BIBLE with Deuterocanonical Books 2004)

References

[6] “The reason that the numbering of the Psalms is different for different Bibles (ancient and modern) is because some Bibles follows the Hebrew numbering system and others follow the Greek pattern. This is just one more reasons that understanding where the Bible has come from can help us better understand the varieties of Christianity in today’s world.”  The GOOD NEWS BIBLE with Deuterocanonical Books for its part, does not mention this double numbering at the level of the psalms, because it prioritizes the Hebrew version

[7] Le respect du silence. (Kery James feat le Rat Luciano)

Trust in God and mutual strengthening

Patience: fruit of a series of faith experiences with God

What didn't I give you? God answer to the question of an individual who claim to have received nothing from him