Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, July 8, 2024

Gospel

Mt 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 himand 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 houseand 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

This Gospel showcases some of the many miracles Jesus performed and I found the common theme from all cases to be that the people who were saved showed great faith. The official’s faith in Jesus’ power to raise his daughter from the dead, the woman’s faith in Jesus’ ability to heal her sickness, and even the faith that Jesus instilled in those who witnessed these events.

When the official knelt before Jesus he did so with humility and trust. Despite his status, he recognized Jesus' authority and placed his hope entirely in Him. Then another remarkable miracle occurred. A woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years approached Jesus with a deep, yet quiet, faith. The woman believed that merely touching the tassel of Jesus’ cloak would bring her healing. Her faith, though silent and seemingly insignificant in the eyes of others, was strong and unwavering. Jesus acknowledged her faith by turning to her and saying, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” This encounter shows that faith does not need to be loud or ostentatious to be genuine and effective.

I think this Gospel passage challenges us to reflect on our own faith. It made me wonder how often I approach Jesus with such humility in my prayers as shown by the official. Do I genuinely surrender my problems to Him, or do I sometimes come with a sense of entitlement or self-reliance? Do I have the same quiet confidence like the woman with the hemorrhages, that Jesus can heal and transform my situation, no matter how dire it seems? Or do I let doubt and fear overshadow my prayers? How do we all approach Jesus today, do we do so with humility, doubt, anger, sadness, or trust?