Deacon John Foley/ Fr Nicholas Broadbridge OSB The Gift of Miracles Deacon John Foley/ Fr Nicholas Broadbridge OSB

Gifts of the Holy Spirit THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Gifts of the Holy Spirit We continue our theme for the year, looking at the power tools the Holy Spirit provides to enable us to share the good news of Jesus Christ, his life, death and resurrection, thereby revealing his kingdom to a fallen world in desperate need of Faith Hope and Charity.

St Anthony Communications THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Introduction we start with a short, seven minute, video introduction to the subject of Miracles shown this afternoon with the agreement of a production company known as St Anthony Communications

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES So to recap: What is a Miracle ? it comes from the latin word for ‘wonder’ and literally means a sight to behold. Miracles require divine intervention. A true Miracle, by definition, is a supernatural phenomenon. It is God who performs the Miracle not us.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES SCRIPTUAL BASIS Creation itself is a Miracle. The dividing of the red sea, at the most apposite moment, is a Miracle. Raising Lazarus from the dead was a Miracle. The Resurrection was a Miracle. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was a Miracle. Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus was a Miracle.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES SCRIPTUAL BASIS John 4:48 so Jesus said to him, unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe” Matthew 17:20 : he said to them “ For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed , you will say to this mountain, ‘move from here to there’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Acts 4:30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your servant Jesus.”

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Evidential Basis: The conversion of millions to Christianity is miraculous. The healings at Lourdes and other places of pilgrimage is a miraculous.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Three Types of Miracles: Theologians have identified three categories of divine interaction under the general heading Miracles (1) Physical (healing a man born blind from birth) (2) Moral (the creation of the church) (3) Intellectual (prophecy; given as a gift to the prophet’s intellect before being heard by others)

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES What the Catholic Church says: The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches “what moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the light of natural reason: we believe because of the authority of God himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive, nor be deceived. (#156)

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Simple truths: The Church deliberately makes the verification of miracles difficult to protect itself from accusations of fraud. However, there is a danger that by making miracles so difficult to verify, (in order to satisfy the sceptics) that many will go unacknowledged. There are far more miracles taking place on a daily basis throughout the world than we can ever know. #

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Seeing is Believing: Hence the witness of St Thomas (doubting Thomas) and the disciples. What we have seen with our own eyes we cannot deny. God performs miracles through his believers to build up our faith and reveal his kingdom to unbelievers. Remember that a Miracle is a very powerful tool for evangelization.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Believing without seeing is faith: Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe. Faith, hope and love are the foundations on which miracle are built. Trust is the mortar that holds these three together.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES What the Lord said and did: Jesus accompanies his words with many might works and wonders and signs, yet he also said: “Truly, truly. I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father”.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Dare to Believe: Miracles are constantly occurring. The real question is do we see them? Do we have the eyes of a living faith to recognize the hand of God at work? Without Faith, there can be no Miracles. It needs to be there somewhere, but not necessarily in the person who needs the Miracle.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Open to God’s will: God uses people who are open to do his will. He used his mother for his first recorded Miracle “Do as he tells, you” Are we open to God’s will,? God’s Holy Spirit is a Spirit of power not timidity

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES What we can learn from his Miracles: His love, his compassion and his willingness to make himself vulnerable. He cried for his friend Lazarus and he touch the lepers, despite it meaning he would be view by his fellow Jews as unclean. Therefore everything we do must also be modelled on Jesus’ love, compassion, and our willingness to make ourselves vulnerable.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Obstacles to God’s grace working. Lack of faith. Lack of forgiveness. Lack of courage

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Step out in Faith: You need both courage and faith to pray for a miracle. But whatever you do it must be out of a genuine love for God’s children.

THE GIFT OF MIRACLES Shared experiences: Share own experiences of miraculous healings etc. And invite other to contribute as well. Remember: “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these”