Jesus heals two daughters through His generous love and our humble faith
Reflections on the readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (July 1, 2018): WIS 1:13-15; 2:23-24; PS 30:2,4,5-6,11,12,1; 2 COR 8:7,9,13-15; MK 5:21-43 or 5:21-24,35-43
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Faith matters. We see that clearly in the two accounts of healing in today’s Gospel.
In the middle of the story of Jairus and his daughter whom Christ raises from the dead, we encounter a long-suffering woman who believes that just a touch of His robe will cure her. This woman had not only paid all she had to doctors who could not help her, but during that time was shunned for being ritually unclean. She had certainly experienced misery and desperation – until Jesus came. “A woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years…heard about Jesus and came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak. She said, ‘If I but touch His clothes, I shall be cured.’ Immediately… She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction” (Mark 5:25, 27-29).
But, if the newly healed woman thought she could slip away without Jesus realizing what had happened, she was mistaken. She was reluctant to admit what she did, perhaps thinking our Lord would be angry. Yet we see her fall to her knees and tell Him the truth. And He recognized her great faith and sent her on her way in peace. Jesus even called her “Daughter.” Just as He would shortly save the young daughter of Jairus because of her father’s faith, Christ cherished this woman’s faith in Him. Let us ask our Lord to help our trust in Him grow each day of our lives. And let us share our belief with others so they, too, may know His mercy.
Suggested missionary action: Today we can pray for the people in our life in need of healing. We can also visit, call, or send a note or card to say that we are praying for them as well as to offer our practical help – and then to follow through.
