A reading from the gospel of Matthew 9:18-26
18 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.”
19 Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples.
20 A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak.
21 She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”
22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.
23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
24 he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him.
25 When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose.
26 And news of this spread throughout all that land.
Reflection: We will all die but in Jesus, we will all live.
The gospel presents to us two miracle stories. The first miracle was the healing of a woman who suffered hemorrhage for 12 years. She was cured because of her faith in the power of Jesus.
The second miracle story started with an official who humbled himself before the Lord and obviously, he believed that Jesus can bring back to life his daughter who had just died. Jesus granted his petition but when the Lord said that the child was not dead but only asleep, people ridiculed Him.
If we were present during that particular moment, maybe we also ridiculed Him. Thanks to the Scripture, we now know that indeed Jesus revived the child, that is, the child died but through the power of God in Jesus, she was brought back to life.
The two miracles in the gospel tell us that nothing is impossible with Jesus. He is the Lord of the living and the dead. We believe that what he had done before can be done again. However, we can only humble ourselves to His will. We may have questions about deaths of some of our loved ones but we trust in His goodness. We continue to believe that His will is always for our good or for the good of His creation. We continue to hope that in due time, we will have the answers to our questions.
Like the woman who was healed after suffering for 12 years, we will have our own healing and the healing of this world in the proper time if we remain faithful to the very end.
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The woman with hemorrhage was cured after twelve long years. We can only imagine the pain she endured but we really appreciate her patience and perseverance for not losing hope. For those of use who experienced any kind of illness knew how difficult life could be but to suffer for twelve years? We can only sympathize with the woman yet we are amazed at her faith. Acute diseases can break us and make us bitter but the woman put her full faith in Jesus. We can assume that she has exhausted all her resources in looking for cure but she has not given up. Then she heard about Jesus. At last hope lingers around and indeed, Jesus did not disappoint. He granted her wish for healing!
Then there’s the official’s daughter. She was dead but the power of Jesus to bring back her life was not lost in the official’s consciousness. He just believed that the man named Jesus can restore her daughter’s life. He has to act now. He has to go and convince to come and do just that. Like in the case of the woman with hemorrhage, Jesus did not disappoint. He showed His mercy and power and miracle happened although people ridiculed Him.
The gospel reading above teaches us to put our full trust in Jesus for He is gracious and merciful. Like Him, let us do the right thing though some people ridicule us.
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These two healing stories offer profound insights into faith, persistence, and the compassionate nature of Jesus. Both Jairus and the bleeding woman demonstrate remarkable faith amidst their dire circumstances. Jairus, despite being a respected leader, humbles himself before Jesus, pleading for his daughter’s life. The bleeding woman, considered unclean and marginalized by society, bravely reaches out to Jesus, believing in His power to heal her.
Faith is central to these miracles. Jesus responds to the woman, saying, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you” (Matthew 9:22). This highlights that faith is not merely an intellectual assent but a deep trust and conviction in Jesus’ power and compassion. The woman’s faith, despite her prolonged suffering and social ostracism, is a testament to her unwavering belief in Jesus’ ability to restore her health and dignity.
Similarly, Jairus’ faith is evident in his approach to Jesus. Even in the face of his daughter’s death, he believes that Jesus can bring her back to life. This kind of faith, which persists even in the most hopeless situations, is what Jesus honors and responds to. It teaches us that no situation is beyond the reach of Jesus’ transformative power.
Jesus’ compassionate response to both individuals showcases His deep care for human suffering. He not only heals physical ailments but also restores hope and dignity. To the woman, He offers not just physical healing but also reassurance and acceptance, calling her “daughter” and affirming her faith. With Jairus, He comforts a grieving father and restores his daughter to life, demonstrating His authority over even death.
These miracles encourage us to approach Jesus with bold and persistent faith, no matter our circumstances. They remind us that Jesus’ power is limitless and His compassion, boundless. In moments of despair, when situations seem impossible, we are invited to trust in Jesus’ ability to bring healing, restoration, and new life.
Let us draw inspiration from Jairus and the bleeding woman, embracing a faith that persists against all odds. In our moments of deepest need, let us reach out to Jesus, confident in His power and compassion. Through faith, we open ourselves to the miraculous, life-changing work of Jesus, experiencing His grace and love in profound and transformative ways.
