Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Well I’m back from a week of Catholic Heart Work Camp. Unfortunately I was not able to get messages out from the place we were staying. Anyway, we’re back online.

“Take heart, your faith has made you well”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 9:18-26

18 While he was thus speaking to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; 21 for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well." 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd making a tumult, 24 he said, "Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus performs two different miracles to help two different people. It was the compromising faith of the two that yielded Christ to answer their prayers. An earthly ruler of a local synagogue comes to Jesus and kneels before him. He tells Jesus that his daughter has died and says, “come and lay your hand on her, and she will live. " Touched by his faith, he gets up to help the ruler. But before he could come to the aide of the father, a woman who suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years reaches out to touch Jesus’ garment to receive his healing powers. Jesus turned to this woman and said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." Then Jesus went to the ruler’s house and was able to bring his daughter back to life. In both cases, it was the unconditional faith of the individuals that Jesus relied upon to help these individuals.

Just imagine, you’re a powerful Jewish ruler and you have to go to Jesus to ask for his help. Not only do the Jews dislike Jesus, they think he is a heretic and one who blasphemies the church. Not only did he go and ask Jesus, but he prostrated himself before Jesus in recognition of the Messiah, our Lord and savior. He does this knowing that his followers and friends were laughing at him. He did this knowing that his followers would not respect him anymore. Likewise, the woman that was hemorrhaging was thinking if she could just touch his garments that would be enough to cure her. So she reached out for him and Jesus, realizing her faith cures her of her aliment. Who do you reach out to help you when you need help. Are you willing to lay it all on the line for Christ.

Belief was not enough. Both people believed in Jesus, but Jesus says, “Take heart, your faith will make you well.” We too must have faith. We must not only believe in God, but we must have faith in his powers. Jesus opened his arms for these people and expressed the deepest form of love. He showed them a love that yielded hope and compassion, at the same time. We too can take our problems and troubles to God. We must be sincere and have faith in what he does. We must be willing to prostrate ourselves before him, even when our friends may make fun of us and laugh at us. It is your faith that will set you free. Through Jesus’ actions, we see the infinite love God extends to all of us. He gave this love freely to each person who needed it. This love was able to cure the sick and raise the dead; it was able to expel demons and heal sinners.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, your love is all I need.

It heals my pains and makes me well.

Help me to give that same love to others so that I too can be healing.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon