God is always more ready to hear us, than we are to pray. More generous to bless us than anything we ask.

The Gospels record some 26 (depending on how you count) miracles of healing done by Jesus. The miracles serve many purposes. They do good for the person healed of course. They manifest the deity of Jesus and who he is, the Messiah. They display the power of God and God's response to faith. They fulfill prophecy, as in the case of man who is deaf and mute, whose healing was foretold in Isaiah's prophecy.

We mark Saint Bartholemew today, August 24. We also reflect on the forgiveness of Jesus to sinners who repent, even to his close friend and co-worker Peter, who denied Jesus three times in a dreadful and heartbreaking incident of betrayal. Luke 22 tells the story.

Jesus feeds us, whether 4,000, 5,000, or 50,000 with true food, spiritual food that only Jesus can provide.

The parable Jesus told about an ungrateful and wayward heir, "the Prodigal Son," is vivid with images of dissoluteness, repentance, and reconciliation. It also teaches us about the ugliness of bitterness and pride as the older son is not only angry and disrespectful of his father but also unwilling to forgive his brother.

In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches us not to rest on our laurels, not to forget about him or become complacent. He teaches us that there will be people who come to him at the last days thinking they are "with him," and that they're part of his team. "Lord, Lord," they will say, reciting for him all the wonderful things they enjoyed and did in his name. But Jesus will say, "I never knew you." Could there be anything more devastating to hear? Yes, we begin with our faith in him and by that alone we are saved. But it doesn't end there, as Jesus wants us to act on our faith and to deepen our relationship with him.

The Gospels record many miracles of Jesus. Today's was about the incredible catch of fish Peter and his fellow fishermen caught in response to Jesus' telling them to go back out to fish after a long and unsuccessful night. Peter's response is to fall at Jesus' feet and leave everything behind to follow him. Miracles are events or effects brought about by direct action of God to intervene and change the normal operations of natural causes. God uses this to reveal himself and his character, to verify his word, and to verify the authority of his messengers and what they declare.

Where is God in calamitous times and events?

Jesus teaches us acceptance of those who may not look right or seem to be like us.

When Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep in Luke chapter 15 he refuted the proud scorn of the scribes and Pharisees, who failed to realize how God welcomes repentant sinners.