Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, July 7, 2025

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.

Reflection

“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.’”

What struck me about this Gospel is how this women's condition would have made her ritually unclean, probably isolated her from community, worship, and even physical touch. And yet, her faith gave her strength to push through the crowd, through the fear, through whatever cultural barrier there was, and to reach for Jesus. She did not want attention or praise, but just to touch His cloak. Just that and she knew she would be saved. I admire her quiet confidence how she whispered this to herself probably still feeling unworthy, but having the courage and faith to trust in Jesus. What’s just as remarkable is how Jesus responds. He stops. He turns. He sees her. And He doesn’t just acknowledge her, He calls her “daughter”... “Courage, daughter. Your faith has saved you". In that moment, Jesus didn’t just heal her body, He restored her identity as well.

This Gospel reminds us that faith doesn’t need to be shout to be heard. Even in whispers, even in silence, He listens.