This P-day we went bowling with a bunch of other
missionaries and it was great. I hadn't bowled in so long and getting to do it
was like a blast from the past all the way back to elementary school when they first
taught us how it's done. It was fun though! In three games I bowled 320, so
clearly I'm not looking at a major league career here, but still not terrible
for my complete and utter lack of practice and natural skill at things
sport-related haha. I'll attach a picture of the bowling squad so you can enjoy
it too!
This week I had the unique opportunity to tutor someone in
math... in Italian... after two years of doing practically no math... let's
just say that it was an experience to remember! The explaining part wasn't so
bad, but the whole recalling how to do stuff part was like trying to carry a
ton of bricks up a hill. It was a battle haha. Luckily after I got the gears
moving again after their long period of stagnation, things started coming back
to me and I was able to provide at least a meager portion of help. Let's just
say I have a lot of review to look forward to when I get back!
This week I was thinking about a story in the New Testament
and its application to us today. This particular story takes place after Christ
miraculously fed 5000 of His disciples. After this event, Christ traveled with
His apostles across the Sea of Galilee to carry on His ministry among the Jews.
Many of these faithful followers, however, followed them, partially because
they liked His teachings and partially because they believed that if they did
He would provide free food for them. When they caught up with the Savior they
asked Him, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"
To which the Master responded, referring to himself, "This is the work of
God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
Apparently their faith in Him only extended as far as their
desire to receive free food from Him, for they responded, "What sign
shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers
did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, [Moses] gave them bread from
heaven to eat." Christ responded to this faithless statement patiently,
instructing them to look not for physical nourishment, but rather, spiritual
nourishment. He told them, "I am the bread of life" and that
"whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life".
Today, we readily understand this passage to refer to the symbols of the
sacrament, the bread and the water, which represent the flesh and blood of
Christ, in memory of His matchless sacrifice of His own sinless life. But these
followers of Christ did not understand these sayings and supposed that Christ
was teaching them doctrines of cannibalism. Their lack of understanding, coupled
with their lack of faith caused many of them to stumble, in fact, "from
that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
In each of our lives, we will be confronted with situations
like this one, where our faith will be put to the test. We are bound to hear things,
see things, or experience things that will try our faith and cause us to
question our belief in Christ, His doctrine, and His church. We will inevitably
be put in situations that give us cause to doubt and to stumble and we, just
like each of the twelve apostles, will be faced with the Christ's piercing
question, "Will ye also go away?" The Lord is not interested in weak
faith. He does not want skin-deep disciples. That's why He lets these kinds of
things happen to us. They are meant to test and grow our faith and they will
come whether or not we are ready for them. But the amazing thing is that greater
understanding always comes to those who patiently wait for it, yet further
darkness is the other thing that awaits those whose faith isn't strong enough
to endure. Let us prepare faithfully against these inevitable trials so that
when they come our way and try to cause our faith to crumble, we can respond as
Peter did and say, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of
eternal life."
I hope you have a great week and that he first days of
spring treat you well!
-Anziano Jake Wilkinson
