One of the questions people have asked
me in the past, especially if they have read the Acts of the
Apostles, and the list of miracles reported by St. Augustine in
the City of God, is this “Why
are there not miracles like in the days of the Early Church, or in
the dioceses and shrines, as in the days of St. Augustine?”
There is a simple
answer to this question, and that is “People lack faith.” Too
many times, Catholics work out of their own power, their own
abilities and do not trust in God alone. Trusting in God alone,
trusting in Divine Providence proves to be a tricky state of mind and
soul.
One cannot fall
into the sin of presumption, which assumes that God must and will
answer one's prayers. Nor can one fall into doubt.
This position of
trust really comes only after the Dark Night, when one has been
purified to the point that one is no longer either presumptuous or
doubting. To be in that state of complete trust demands a deep
humility. Until one is purified, one vacillates between presuming
that God will answer one's prayers and doubt that He will do so.
Humility alone brings about the detachment necessary for pure prayer.
Miracles are rare,
always, but more miracles could come from the Will of God if people
really believed that He wanted to create these miracles.
A person must get
beyond trusting in people, but it is true that the People of God can
work miracles as well.
I have friend who
was literally homeless with four children after her husband left her.
Her miracle came when she finally found a sensitive and non-officious
person in the welfare office to “hear” her after several tries.
God must move
people to do good. As St. Teresa of Avila writes, our hands are His
Hands.
I need several
miracles. Most of my readers who have been following me know what
these are. God works in mysterious ways, as we all know, as He is
deferring these miracles while I am being humbled and put into the
position where it is obvious that only He can find the solution.
To trust in God
completely shows God that one loves Him as God, and as Father.
The miracles of the
Early Church came from hearts of trust.