Can we Amaze Jesus?

[Nikhil]

I heard of this very neat question recently and shared it with a youth group last Sunday. The disucssions were so interesting I thought I’d share it here as well:

Luke 7: Jesus Heals the Servant of the Roman Centurion

Specifically Luke 7:9 where "When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

Can you think of when you or any other has done something that would amaze Jesus? I would be interested to know if this is the only instance where Jesus was amazed by a person’s faith?

 

[LilyM]

Not sure about amazed, but certainly he was impressed by the faith of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 -

27 But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

And I’m sure he was pretty impressed by the good thief as well, to forgive him as he did.

 

[Georgess]

Like the intent of the project - like little children who want to do their best for mom or papa …

How about when we can marvel at the gift of the faith that help us to truly believe what each Sacrament is … the Love and Humility of Our Lord , who want His children to feel secure and significant at the expense of Him becoming so little and approchable in The Eucharist …and in turn heaven being amazed at that faith …the power of repentance and rebirth in the confessional …

The power given to The Bl. Mother and our simple childlike faith in her intercession … a Mother , who has been given a heart and a role , unlike that of any human creature , to bear the pain and sorrows of all her children , being the God Bearer …to intercede for all …and whose role He did not want confused through the ploys of the evil one who has always been adept at introducing counterfeits of the pagan goddesses which in turn was dealt with swift retribution, just as the one for idolatry in the O.T which would have confused The Real Presence in The Eucharist …

Let Thy will be done …may those who have wandered off return and bring joy to all heaven … may we be blessed with love and trust in Our Father !

 

[Nikhil]

Not sure about amazed, but certainly he was impressed by the faith of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 -

27 But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

And I’m sure he was pretty impressed by the good thief as well, to forgive him as he did.

Lily thanks that is definitely one that comes under the general category. I know I may be narrowing the focus too much on the words but really it would be nice to see more examples.

 

[Nikhil]

Like the intent of the project - like little children who want to do their best for mom or papa …

How about when we can marvel at the gift of the faith that help us to truly believe what each Sacrament is … the Love and Humility of Our Lord , who want His children to feel secure and significant at the expense of Him becoming so little and approchable in The Eucharist …and in turn heaven being amazed at that faith …the power of repentance and rebirth in the confessional …

The power given to The Bl. Mother and our simple childlike faith in her intercession … a Mother , who has been given a heart and a role , unlike that of any human creature , to bear the pain and sorrows of all her children , being the God Bearer …to intercede for all …and whose role He did not want confused through the ploys of the evil one who has always been adept at introducing counterfeits of the pagan goddesses which in turn was dealt with swift retribution, just as the one for idolatry in the O.T which would have confused The Real Presence in The Eucharist …

Let Thy will be done …may those who have wandered off return and bring joy to all heaven … may we be blessed with love and trust in Our Father !

Very nice insights. The direction though is from us to God i.e. we are amazed at God’s mercy.

My point is finding occasions in the other direction i.e. in the scripture where God was amazed at us/those among us.

 

[Fidelis]

It might depend on the translation you are using what you will find. For example, the verse you gave that contained the word “amazed,” is rendered “marveled” in the RSVCE, the translation I primarily use:

Lu 7:9 -
When Jesus heard this he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that followed him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

In contrast, I didn’t find any verses in the RSV where Jesus was “amazed” or even “astonished.” Some other verses where he "marveled, however, were:

Mt 8:10 -
When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.

Mr 6:6 -
And he **marveled **because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

(These may be paralell passages of Luke 7:9, but I didn’t have time to look them up.)

 

[Georgess]

Thanks Nikhil, for the kind words and invitation to try again … and you too Fidelis , for the efforts as always to bring in that little extra that helps to take in the meaning better …

Well, today The Feast of St. Antony Mary Claret , founder of The Claretian Missionary order .with priests doing great mission work and service world over …and I can imagine a scene like in the Book of Job ( except for the presence of satan ) - where it might go something like - ’ Look at our good and faithful son St Antony Claret here … a life wholly devoted to serve The Kingdom …’ and so it can be about the countless misssionaries, priests , nuns , even the hidden lay saints who dare to go against the culture , in matters of church teachings on life and families , with struggles and sacrifice …to try to bring up children in the evalues of the faith …and so on …

…as the Most loving Father …would not every effort of His chidren , in making a little or big step, be a delight to Him …

Ready here to hear the good ideas from your project as well…

 

[Nikhil]

It might depend on the translation you are using what you will find. For example, the verse you gave that contained the word “amazed,” is rendered “marveled” in the RSVCE, the translation I primarily use:

…

I agree with you completely. The only reason I used the word “amazed” was to convery the sense of the Lord’s feelings. In that sense “marvelled” also fits the same category.

Thanks for the insights … look forward to some more contributions.

 

[Nikhil]

Georgess I like the direction you’re taking. It is very much a fact of life that we have a chance to amaze Jesus … it’s just a matter of when we want to. Your example of St Anthony is one.

With the group of young people I was with they had recently organised an outreach program which brought in about 150 boys and girls. To me that was something that would easily qualify as an act of “amazing Jesus”.

 

[Georgess]

.

With the group of young people I was with they had recently organised an outreach program which brought in about 150 boys and girls. To me that was something that would easily qualify as an act of “amazing Jesus”.

- thanks for sharing that - for a world that awaits eagerly the new spring time …amidst stories and scenes of the dire predictions of events such as - ’ there will be some fashions that will be offensive '( Fatima ) …and who would have ever imagined the attire of young boys these days …or of girls …just a telling of the slant of the world …

Yet, we have the upcoming Feasts of St. Jude and St. Simon …

May St. Jude , carrying the flame of The Spirit intercede for the seemingly impossible causes …

of young and old freed from the seductions and bondages of this world …to be filled with The Holy Spirit …and zeal for the Kingdom , as of St. Simon the Zealot …may the people of Persia and those troubled lands that carry the earthly fire - oil , be able to accept true values of brotherly love …and the zeal for Christian unity be a fire in more hearts …that the many evils of the nonblelieving world will disappear like smoke …