Elia 8th S,Oct.17,10

Elia 8^th S,Oct.17,10

(Lk.8:41-56)

Today’s Gospel presents before us two incidents that reveal the mercy and compassion of the Lord toward those who are suffering and grief-stricken. Two miracles happening back to back are in response to great expression of faith in the divine power of Jesus.

Jairus, in spite of his position as an official of the synagogue, had no qualms in approaching Jesus and asking for His intervention in the cure of his daughter. He fell at the feet of Jesus with the request to save his young daughter from an incurable sickness. We cannot imagine how difficult it might have been for a Jewish official to prostrate before Jesus who was treated with derision by the Pharisees. The official was asking something that was unheard of: to cure his daughter from a sickness that would lead to her death. But Jesus did not show any hesitation. He was ready to accompany him to his house.

On the way to the house he was being surrounded by a huge crowd of people. They were thronging around him. There was a lot of pushing and jostling to come near him. All of a sudden, a woman, suffering from hemorrhage for twelve years, touched the tassel on his cloak for the cure of her disease. Her faith in the power of Jesus was very ardent. She knew that she was standing before the Son of God and that she could be cured by him. Jesus felt the power of her faith. But He wanted to acknowledge her faith and let people know how powerful it was.

The disciples were surprised at the inquiry of Jesus as to who had touched Him. But she came trembling before Him and fell at His feet and confessed what she did. He right away praised her by acknowledging the power of her faith.

St. Jerome has the following to say concerning her faith: “She touches Christ’s garment with faith; she sees Christ with the eyes of faith. If we wish to be healed, we too must touch the hem of Christ’s garment with faith.” Her life of faith shows us the way we have to open ourselves to God. It is not without doubts and vacillations of mind that we have to approach the Lord but with the certainty that the Lord would always come to our help and that we would never be abandoned.” “When we don’t have faith in the power of God, we become self-centered, consumed by our petty interests, and inclined to judge everything through the prism of our limited minds. When that happens, it becomes difficult to see and understand the supernatural dimension”.(Navarre Edition)

Meanwhile, He was informed by Jairus that He should not trouble himself to come over to his house as the daughter had already passed away. Undeterred by the news, Jesus pressed on going to the house, telling him that she was not dead but only asleep. Jesus , then, restored her to life. The happiness and the joy that filled the house were beyond our wildest imaginings. Their only child, the young girl of 12 years old, was back to life again.

Jesus came to the help of two persons who were deeply stricken with suffering. His compassion and mercy knew no bounds. He responded to their requests.

In our own situation in life, when we are caught in the storms and tempests of life, we should not lose our moorings. Like them, we should approach Jesus with deep faith , believing in our hearts that he would change the situation . Miracles would happen in our lives too.

It is faith, deep and unreserved commitment to Jesus, that is required from us. In our world, where religion and faith are considered as signs of weakness, we have to show by our lives that Jesus is alive in our midst.

Our faith should be constant and firm.Like the prophet Habakuk, we have to say to say through our lives:

“For though the fig trees blossom not,

Nor grapes be on the vines,

Though the olive crop fail

And the fields produce no food,

Though the flock be lost from the fold

And the herd be gone from the stalls, Yet in Yahweh will I rejoice, in God my Savior will I exult.”