The Official’s Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage

Today's Reflections 

      

The Official’s Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage

Mt 9:18-26

¹⁸While [Jesus was speaking to the crowd], 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.” ¹⁹Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. ²⁰A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. ²¹She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”
²²Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.

²³When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, ²⁴he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. ²⁵When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. ²⁶And news of this spread throughout all that land.

YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU. The death of a loved one can drive a person to hopelessness and despair. So can sickness for which there seems to be no cure. This happens to an official whose daughter has just died and to a woman suffering hemorrhages for 12 years. And yet they are not frozen into immobility. “Hoping against hope,” they approach Jesus, trusting that this prophet of God can do miracles for them. Jesus tells them to take courage and have faith. He heals the woman and raises the dead girl to life.

Faith is never passive. It impels us to trust even in situations that try hardy hearts. It tells us to cling to hope and move on even if we are not sure of what lies ahead. The Letter to the Hebrews gives us examples of men and women of God who “walked with faith”: Abraham, Jacob, Moses, the Judges, King David, and others. Though weak and limited, they accomplished marvelous acts for the people of God and were approved because of their faith (cf Heb 11:17-38).

“Lord, when I learn that someone is hurting,

help me to know what to do and say.

Speak to my heart and give me compassion”

(K. De Haan)