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Theo Tigno•
7/7/2003 6:11 am
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Monday, July 7th 2003 |
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.
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is in thanksgiving for God's goodness and generosity.
Let's look at the two people who turn to Jesus in today's Gospel reading.
The first of the two, the official, had nowhere else to turn to. Through this official, we see how the times of our suffering can become the times when our faith is strengthened. The person who was in need of the healing was the official. From that moment, and every moment thereafter into eternity, this man is pointing to the greatness of Our Lord because of the great faith that he has shown in the darkness of his suffering.
When we take a look at our lives, it is no different for us. The faith we have in Our Lord is eternal. The testimony that your life will be to this world will not only affect your life from now until eternity, but also the lives of many eternal souls who are changed by your faith in the One True God.
The natural human tendency is to find a way to avoid suffering. The desire to avoid suffering is not a sin itself, but turning from God is. The second character who turns to Jesus, the hemorrhaging woman, had the desire to avoid suffering, and does not let that desire turn into sin. Instead, the desire leads to an increase in faith in her and in all of us. Through this woman, we are invited to a deeper understanding of faith: a faith that not only heals our physical suffering, but also our mental and, most importantly, our spiritual. It is God alone who heals us in our times of suffering. We are the only ones who can allow that healing to happen. It is only through your yes that God can be glorified. It is only through your faith that you can be healed. Take care and God Bless.
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