Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Mt 9: 18-26
July 10, 2023 | Monday

Today’s Gospel

While Jesus was speaking to them, an official of the synagogue came up to him, bowed before him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.” Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples. Then a woman, who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years, came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak; for she thought, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned, saw her and said, “Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from that moment, the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said, “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!” And they laughed at him. But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.

Today’s Reflection:

In the raising of the official’s daughter, the child was already dead before her father made his request. He had faith that Jesus’ touch can raise the dead. On the other hand, the woman suffering from a hemorrhage who interrupts the progress to the official’s house does not presume to ask Jesus to touch her – something that in conventional understanding would render him virtually unclean. But she had faith to believe that if only she can touch Him quietly and secretly, she may find healing.

At present, we also present the same kind of faith. In our Christian life, especially for us Filipinos, we touch sacred or religious images of saints as an expression of faith. To touch can bean expression of faith and the element of healing is believed to happen. From all of these, let us reflect on this: What physical and spiritual healing do I need to ask from God for myself and for others?.    /Vulnerasti, 2023