The WORD today reminds me how powerful faith is, especially if we give our best effort and humble ourselves before God.
When I was in school, I did my best to get good grades. I study and do my homework. However, not all questions in the tests were from what you studied. Life is full of surprises, and some tests are like that as well. In Math, there were surprise questions, equations and problems you did not discuss in class. During these times, I just did my best and write something. Kahit feeling ko mali yung ginagawa ko. Kahit maling formula or nonsense, sige lang. Best effort. And surprisingly, some teachers give effort points for trying. This is probably how God wants us to act in our spiritual life.
Minsan, kailangan mo lang mag effort sa pananampalataya.
Effort.
In the gospel, we see two accounts of healing. The woman who has had hemorrhage for 12 years, and a dead little girl. But before the actual healing took place, these people made the effort to ask for healing. The little girl's father travelled far just to see Jesus. The woman made the effort to get behind Jesus, despite her condition and despite the number of people following Jesus at that time.
Humility.
They also had humility. The father was an official. He was powerful. He was important. He could have sent his servants to ask Jesus. He could have asked powerful people to bring Jesus to him. But no. He was humble. He went to Jesus and knelt down as a sign of respect. The woman was also humble. She did not shout to get Jesus attention. She did not make a scene or begged. She just simple touched whatever part of Jesus she can.
Faith.
These two things, together with faith, are very powerful. Jesus was able to bring the dead child back to life. And Jesus, even through just the tassel of his cloak, was able to heal the woman. They had great faith in Jesus. And they were not disappointed. They had the right attitude and disposition, and God rewarded them.
This is how we should act. This is how we should live. We should make the effort to know God more. We should make the effort to seek him and go to him. The bible says that if we seek him with all of our heart, we will find him. We need to make the effort and do our part, and not expect God to come to us. We should also humble ourselves before God. We should know our place. He is God. We should not ask him to do things for us. He is God, not us. And finally, we should always, always have faith. Even if it does not make sense. Even if it seems hopeless. Even when we feel helpless. God is all powerful. God is all loving. We should just have faith in us.
How is my relationship with God? What are my concerns in life? Do I make the effort to seek God and come to him, or do I expect God to find me and come to me? When faced with problems, do I take active steps to be closer to God, or do I just pray and ask that he help me? Do I humble myself before God, or do I expect God to serve me and give me all I pray for? And do I have faith in God, especially when situations are tough? Or do I feel that the world is more powerful than God?
May we be inspired and reminded to make the effort for God, to humble ourselves before him, and to always have faith in Him.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for another week! Lord, thank you for the reminder. Sorry for the times, for the many times I don't do this. Sorry for not making enough effort for you and just waiting for you to go to me. Sorry for not humbling myself before you, and expecting you to give me my desires. Sorry for not having enough faith in you, for thinking that you cannot do anything anymore. Help me be like the people in the gospel. From now on, I commit to make the effort to go to you and get to know you more. I commit to humble myself before you and surrender to you. And I will always have faith in your great power and your great love. Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflections:
July 06, 2020
Monday of Week 14; St. Maria Goretti
FIRST READING
Hosea 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22
Thus says the LORD:
I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart. She shall respond there as in the days of her youth, when she came up from the land of Egypt.
On that day, says the LORD, She shall call me “My husband,” and never again “My baal.”
I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the LORD.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Generation after generation praises your works and proclaims your might. They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty and tell of your wondrous works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds and declare your greatness. They publish the fame of your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful.
ALLELUIA
See 2 Timothy 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Matthew 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.
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.
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