The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062815.cfm) reminds me of something very powerful – Faith.
In the gospel we see Jesus faced with something we all can relate to – health problems. Jairus came to her to have his daughter healed. They were on their way when a woman came to Jesus and touched his cloak. Jesus asked who touched her, because he knew someone touched him and that power came out of him. Of course, being the Son of God, he knows that. I believe he also knew who touched her. He just wanted to see if the woman would stand up and be responsible for her actions, even if she felt she would be reprimanded for it. During that time, social division was strong. There were slaves and masters, and widows and women are on the bottom of the hierarchy. The widow was boldly breaking rules as she came directly to Jesus. She probably thought she would be punished or reprimanded, still she held up for her actions. Then we see Jesus breaking social barriers and commending her faith. “Daughter, your faith has saved you” Yes, Jesus cannot work miracles without our faith (Matthew 13:58). He goes on further assuring her she did nothing wrong, and is healed already “Go in peace and be cured of your affliction”
On the way to Jairus’ house, they received news that the daughter died already. Well, indeed nothing is impossible for God. Again, Jesus emphasizes the importance of faith. “Do not be afraid, just have faith” Although it was not explicitly stated that Jairus had faith (except for the fact he asked Jesus to heal his daughter, thus had faith in Jesus), we can see he had faith because he still brought home Jesus and He was able to heal his daughter.
God do not want sickness and death. The first reading tells us that it was the devil who brought death into the world. Thus, we should be encouraged and have faith in God’s love and power. And as we are healed, we are encouraged by the second reading to help others as well, to repay God’s goodness to us by helping out others, by sharing God’s blessings to us.
Do not be afraid; just have faith.
God is reminding us to just trust in him – no matter what the situation may be. Especially when the situation seem to be hopeless or impossible. In this life there will be a lot of challenges, and tough ones at that. No matter what you do, there will always be negative reactions. Jesus is telling us to keep our faith, to focus on Him and to just continue to trust in Him. The enemy cannot prevail over God, so no matter how difficult the situation may be, it is nothing God cannot handle and win over. Yes, nothing is impossible for Him (Matthew 19:26) and he will never give us something we cannot bear through him (1 Corinthians 10:13)
What are my concerns right now? What am I praying for? What is something I want to be healed of or want to be freed from? What challenges are there in my life right now? Do I believe that I can go through this, through God’s grace? Do I know that nothing is impossible for God? Do I know that God needs my faith to save me?
May we be reminded on the power of faith in God, and not only pray for faith, but do our part to improve our faith.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminders. Lord, I praise and thank you for your great, redeeming and healing love for me. Thank you for always keeping me safe and watching over me. Lord, I am sorry for the times I take you for granted and for taking your blessings for granted just because I think everyone experiences the same as well. Sorry for the times that I feel the situation is hopeless or impossible, that even you cannot do anything to improve it. I ask that you bless my efforts to strengthen my faith. As I read the bible, pray more, and partake of the sacraments and get to know you more, may my faith increase. May I always trust in you, no matter what the situation may be. I know Lord that nothing is too big or too small for you, and that you will always be there to guide and protect me, even if I cannot feel it sometimes. Use me Lord for your kingdom, and may my faith be a sign of your great love and power to others. Amen.
Blessed Sunday!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
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June 28, 2015
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 98
Reading 1 Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24
God did not make death,
nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.
For he fashioned all things that they might have being;
and the creatures of the world are wholesome,
and there is not a destructive drug among them
nor any domain of the netherworld on earth,
for justice is undying.
For God formed man to be imperishable;
the image of his own nature he made him.
But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world,
and they who belong to his company experience it.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Reading 2 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15
Brothers and sisters:
As you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse,
knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you,
may you excel in this gracious act also.
For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Not that others should have relief while you are burdened,
but that as a matter of equality
your abundance at the present time should supply their needs,
so that their abundance may also supply your needs,
that there may be equality.
As it is written:
Whoever had much did not have more,
and whoever had little did not have less.
Alleluia Cf. 2 Tm 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mk 5:21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat
to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
“My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live.”
He went off with him,
and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.
There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to Jesus,
“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
“Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep.”
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”
which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.
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