Q. We know Jesus performed miracles. But if He wanted to continually bring followers to God wouldn’t it have been easier just to perform miracles on command? Why didn’t Jesus do that?

A.  What Jesus did was come to redeem us from our sins and to save us from the consequence of sin, and to describe a Catholic way of life, according to His teachings. At some point each one of us has to look at Jesus for what He said and its inherit truthfulness and to accept that rather than the show of miracles.

Remember that even Jesus said you are not supposed to believe because of the miracles unless you couldn’t begin to believe without them.

It is recorded in the Gospel of John (10:37-38) that Jesus tells us, “If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me; but if I do them, though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

That was the attitude of Jesus all through His life. He did not ever say believe primarily because of the works that I do, but believe me because I am telling you the truth. I come from God. I am the Son of God. I am the Father. If you do this you will have eternal life.

Send your topics or questions for Bishop Doran’s Teaching Moment to observer@rockforddiocese.org