MONDAY of 14th WEEK, uneven numbered year
"While Jesus was speaking to them, suddenly one of the officials came up, who bowed low in front of him , and said ’My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.’ Jesus rose, and with his disciples followed him.
The Word invites us to admire the marvellous manifestations of faith that move the Heart of Jesus and provoke his immediate action. He told us :’A firm faith obliges God to act. ’If I can only touch his clothing I shall be saved. ’The pain of personal and community trials is evoked in this way to Jesus ’ My daughter has just died; but come and impose upon her your hand and she will live.’ Passing through these trials in faith, we become men and women who increase their trust in God. Hold steadfast in trials, this is what God expects of us. This chief official of the synagogues’ pain is immense. His hope is in the healing of his daughter who has just died. He runs towards Jesus who will give make him feel better and stronger. He will discover that God envelops him in his Tenderness!
"Then suddenly from behind him came a woman, who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she was thinking, ’if only I can touch his cloak I shall be saved. Jesus turned around and saw her; and he said to her, ’Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.’ And from that moment the woman was saved.’
God lets himself to be taken over by the willingness of our faith. What he doesn’t like is when we tempt him through our lack of faith. This was the case of Zechariah, asking proof from the archangel Gabriel ; ’Zechariah said to the Angel,’ How shall I know it?’ The Archangel didn’t move, ’ ’I am Gabriel who stands in God’s Presence;you will be silenced and have no power of speech until this has happened, since you did not believe my words., which will become true at their appointed time."And this is what came about. This women who suffered from loss
of blood and gone to see doctors , spending all her wealth without any results! As well, the situation of a woman losing blood makes her impure/ What is left to her is this ’man named Jesus in whom she had placed all her hope. She has such a great faith in him! She says to herself, ’if I can just touch his cloak, I’ll be healed!’ Jesus understands the pain of this woman, she will be healed! God answers without waiting to those who trust in Him.
“When Jesus reached the official’s house and saw the flute players, with the crowd making a commotion, he dais, ’Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ And they made fun of him. But when the people had been turned out he went outside and took her by the hand; and she stood up. And the news of this spread all round the countryside.”
God accomplishes another work of healing and of Peace. We too must go beyond our suffering with great hope. The trails we undergo, the doubts we have to go through are part of normal trials in life. We ask God for this invincible hope, a love that is ever renewed. We are unable to bear fruit by ourselves, it is together, in community, that we can pick up the challenge of hope. We encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, we receive his Body and Blood to be healed, transformed by him, we build communities of faith that allow us to be worked by God’s Holy Spirit.