Saving Faith

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/070615.cfm) reminds me that our faith can save us.

In the gospel, we see a different account of Jesus’ healing power. in Mark’s version, it was Jairus whose daughter who was sick. However, in today’s version, no name was given – but the situation was worse. The child was not just sick, but dead already. So we see a man with stronger faith, for he believes that Jesus can heal and bring back to life even her dead daughter.

On the way to the house, Jesus did another miracle. A faith filled woman with hemorrhages just touched Jesus’ cloak and she was healed. She did not ask aloud for healing, but God knows her faith, and used her faith to heal her as she touched Jesus’ cloak.

Faith saves!

The woman was saved, and the little girl was brought back to life. All by faith which activated God’s power – faith from the woman, and faith from the official.

There are times we are faced with similar situations. Problems seem to be too big, and nothing can be done already. Health is deteriorating, and just waiting for the time to pass away. Problems seem to overwhelm us to the point we feel hopeless and helpless. We should be inspired by the people. The man’s daughter already died, and the woman has been suffering for twelve years. Seems like an impossible situation, nothing can be done already. But not with God. Nothing is impossible with God. In the same way he used and rewarded the faith of those who came to him, he can still and will use and reward the faith of those who come to him today.

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, an do our part to improve our faith.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminders. Lord, I praise and thank you for your great, redeeming and healing love for me. 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 week!

In Christ,

-g-

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July 6, 2015

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 383

Reading 1 Gn 28:10-22a

Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran.

When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set,

he stopped there for the night.

Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head

and lay down to sleep at that spot.

Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground,

with its top reaching to the heavens;

and God’s messengers were going up and down on it.

And there was the LORD standing beside him and saying:

“I, the LORD, am the God of your forefather Abraham

and the God of Isaac;

the land on which you are lying

I will give to you and your descendants.

These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth,

and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south.

In you and your descendants

all the nations of the earth shall find blessing.

Know that I am with you;

I will protect you wherever you go,

and bring you back to this land.

I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.”

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed,

“Truly, the LORD is in this spot, although I did not know it!”

In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine!

This is nothing else but an abode of God,

and that is the gateway to heaven!”

Early the next morning Jacob took the stone

that he had put under his head,

set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it.

He called the site Bethel,

whereas the former name of the town had been Luz.

Jacob then made this vow: “If God remains with me,

to protect me on this journey I am making

and to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear,

and I come back safe to my father’s house, the LORD shall be my God.

This stone that I have set up as a memorial stone shall be God’s abode.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab

R. (see 2b) In you, my God, I place my trust.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,

who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

R. In you, my God, I place my trust.

For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,

from the destroying pestilence.

With his pinions he will cover you,

and under his wings you shall take refuge.

R. In you, my God, I place my trust.

Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;

I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in distress.

R. In you, my God, I place my trust.

Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death

and brought life to light through the Gospel.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward,

knelt down before him, and said,

“My daughter has just died.

But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.

A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him

and touched the tassel on his cloak.

She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”

Jesus turned around and saw her, and said,

“Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”

And from that hour the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house

and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,

he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.”

And they ridiculed him.

When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand,

and the little girl arose.

And news of this spread throughout all that land.