“Do You Now Believe?” – A Question That Uncovers the Heart
In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.
May the blessing of the Father who calls us and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us be with us all, that we may hear His word and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.
Introduction: A Question for the Soul
Our Lord, nearing His Passion, turns to His disciples and says, “Do you now believe?” (John 16:31).
It is not simply a question for them—but for each of us.
We come to Church. We serve. We pray. But deep inside, this question must echo again and again:
“Do you now believe?”
Not simply “Do you know about Me?”
Not “Do you agree with Christian values?”
Not “Do you like the Church’s culture?”
But: Do you believe—now—deep in your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul?
1. What Do We Believe?
Christ says clearly in verse 28:
“I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
This is the Creed in one sentence.
We believe in the divine origin of Christ. That He is “God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God.”
We believe in His incarnation, His death, and His return to the Father.
This is not a philosophy—it is Truth.
And it must transform our lives.
But believing this is more than repeating it.
Saint Cyril of Alexandria teaches:
“It is not sufficient for salvation to know Christ merely in word, but in deed and in truth.”
True belief is obedience.
True belief is surrender.
True belief is trust—especially when we do not understand.
2. What Questions Should We Ask Ourselves?
The disciples thought they believed—but Jesus said, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming that you will be scattered.”
Real belief is not shown in moments of excitement—it is shown in moments of pain.
So we ask ourselves:
- Do I believe Christ is with me even when I feel alone?
- Do I believe He has overcome the world when I face tribulation?
- Do I believe He loves me when I fail or fall?
- Do I trust His will even when it doesn’t match mine?
The Orthodox life is full of soul-searching questions.
Saint Gregory of Nyssa once said:
“Faith is the firm knowledge of God that comes from the soul’s purification.”
When we repent, we begin to see clearly. The more pure the heart, the stronger the faith.
3. Where Do We Find the Answers?
Jesus told His disciples, “The hour is coming when I will tell you plainly of the Father.”
Where do we hear this plain voice today?
- In the Scriptures—when we read with humility.
- In the Liturgy—when we listen with our hearts.
- In the Fathers of the Church—when we learn from their wisdom.
- In the sacraments—when we unite with Christ in the Eucharist.
And sometimes, in the silence of our own inner room, when we kneel and say, “Lord, I believe—help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
4. The Danger of Spiritual Overconfidence
Jesus told the disciples they would be scattered. Why?
Because they overestimated their spiritual strength.
They believed—but only partially.
We too may say, “I believe!” But then fall into despair, fear, or pride.
This is why the saints always taught humility before faith.
Saint Isaac the Syrian said:
“He who knows his own weakness is greater than he who raises the dead.”
It is when we distrust ourselves and lean wholly on Christ that we become strong.
5. The Reward of Bold Faith
In verse 33, Jesus gives us a promise:
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
This peace is not the absence of pain.
It is the presence of Christ in the storm.
Just as He stood in the boat and calmed the waves, He stands in our lives.
And just as He told them, “Peace, be still,” He says the same to our anxious hearts.
Saint Athanasius teaches:
“Faith in Christ is the anchor of the soul, holding firm against every wave of doubt.”
Practical Application
Today, beloved, go home and ask yourself:
“Do I now believe?” Not just in theory—but in trust, in practice, in obedience.
Take time this week to:
- Write down your questions—those you’re afraid to voice.
- Bring them to God in prayer and through reading the Gospels.
- Discuss your faith with someone in your family or youth group.
- Confess your doubts honestly—and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into truth.
Conclusion
The goal of belief is not information—it is transformation.
May the Lord help us believe—not just with words, but with hearts that surrender, eyes that see Him, and lives that obey Him.
“Be of good cheer,” He says, “I have overcome the world.”
And if He overcame, then in Him—we too shall overcome.
May the Lord bless us, transform our hearts and minds, that our homes may stand on the Rock, our hands serve in the harvest, and our hearts long for Heaven. Amen.