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STAND UP! (Jn.5:8)

STAND UP! (Jn.5:8)

Illness is everyone’s affair. This not only means that we will all fall ill some time or other, but that each human being carries a lifelong ailment with him or her. In the language of the Act of Consecration of Man this is called the sickness of sin.

A critical question applies to every form of healing, including the sickness of sin: “Have you the will to become whole?” Not only does this question sound in many different ways in the healings Christ performed during His life on earth; today also, this is the most important question that can make healing possible, yes or no. Of course, a physician can provide a remedy that takes the symptoms away. But that does not affect the cause, and sooner or later the illness will raise its head again in another form. Strangely enough, there are people who don’t even have the will to be healed anymore. The only thing they want is a miracle drug that does the work for them.

Such a one was the paralyzed man in Bethesda. He had almost given up the hope to be healed—even though he was still waiting for someone who would take him to the water at the last moment. He did not even answer the critical question: “Have you the will to become whole?” Instead there was his despondent message: No one helps me. Nothing helps me. I give up. But as long as there was a trace of life, Christ called in the depths of his despair: “Stand up!”

And we? When sooner or later we go through an illness, when we have direct experience of the sickness of sin and are close to despair—listen to the still, strong voice that calls: “Stand up!”

–Rev. Bastiaan Baan, February 7, 2021

February 8, 2021/0 Comments/by CCNA

Blog, Homilies, Uncategorized

“According to Your Faith, So Let It Be” (Mt.8:13)

It is in our social environment not at all a matter of course to trust people. How often is our trust in others betrayed? But as foolhardy as it is to blindly trust people, so destructive can it be to face the whole world with distrust. And yet, these days this happens everywhere, people against people, party against party, all against all. Even in our own circles individuals are divided by distrust. And that does not go away by itself, even though in the Act of Consecration of Man we are reminded of Him “who makes hearts to be at peace, strengthens wills, unites mankind.” Why then do we not succeed in becoming one?

We can only connect with people who have different ideas when we really search for the essence. The essence—that is Christ in us. Easily said—hard to achieve. For how often is that essence hidden behind outer appearance? In our world, where everything is focused on tangible results, we are all in danger not only of losing our essence, but even of burying it. But if that ever happens—even what was buried can still be raised from death. Look at the world through the eyes of Christ. Most of all, look at your opponent through His eyes—and you will help him to come back to himself again. Have you prayed for your enemy? Have you forgiven him, because he has become a debtor just like you? Do you put your trust in the essence that will sooner or later come to light?

In the tragedy of life it can come to the point that a person loses himself and doesn’t even know that he can’t find himself. Even then, I can still find him: in my faith, in my hope, in my love. This most profound trust is what Christ asks of his followers.

When He was still living on the earth, people often listened to Him with the usual distrust and disbelief. That is how people are, even then. But when an individual recognized Him and believed, He could achieve miracles in the life of that individual. To such a person He could say: “According to your faith, so let it be.”

Now that He is come again and goes with us all our days, He asks of us: “Recognize Me—even though I am hidden in the least of your brothers and sisters.” And if we do recognize Him there, He can say to us also: “According to you faith, so let it be.”

-Rev. Bastiaan Baan, January 31, 2021

February 1, 2021/0 Comments/by CCNA

Blog, Homilies

“And His Disciples Believed in Him” (Jn.2:11)

“And His Disciples Believed in Him” (Jn.2:11)

In a society where everything is focused on visible, tangible results, we all actually live according to the principle of first seeing, then believing. Whether we want to or not, we have in a certain sense all become materialists. We want to see, hear, touch and taste—then only do we believe that something really exists.

Thus it goes at the wedding in Cana: the disciples see and hear—and not until it has passed the test of their senses, and they have drunk, do they believe.

Just like doubting Thomas, we can stay at a distance, ask critical questions, and have doubts. But we can also, if we want to, take the test. The test—for us that is the service at the altar. The Act of Consecration of Man has been given to us to learn to believe through all our senses. Whoever does not want to take in the words, but judges like an aloof spectator, remains on the outside and cannot believe. But experience teaches that the presence of Christ can be recognized, heard, touched and tasted. At the altar He manifests His Light Being day in, day out—until we become His disciples and believe in Him.

And whoever has once recognized Him in the bread and wine can, just like doubting Thomas who sees, hears, and touches Him, affirm with heart and soul: “My Lord and my God!” (Jn.20:28)

-Rev. Bastiaan Baan, January 24, 2021

January 25, 2021/1 Comment/by CCNA

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