Matthew's account of the raising of Jairus' daughter and the healing of the woman with the twelve-year hemorrhage varies slightly from Mark's and Luke's. Matthew begins to narrate the miracle after Jairus has already heard that his daughter had died. He's not asking Jesus to heal in the intensive care unit but to resurrect in the funeral home. This demands greater faith.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke agree that the hemorrhaging woman was healed the instant she touched Jesus' garment. However, in Matthew, the woman's healing is manifested after the healing happened (Mt 9:22). She's healed but doesn't feel healed. She's walking by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). To claim a healing when there's no physical evidence at the time once again demands more faith. Jesus is challenging us to greater faith so we can stay in the miracle room and not have to be put out (Mt 9:25). "Believe, receive; doubt, do without."
| PRAYER: | Jesus, may I let You give me faith that increases by the hour. |
| PROMISE: | "A stairway rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God's messengers were going up and down on it." –Gn 28:12 |
| PRAISE: | The 120 Chinese Martyrs, who included men, women, and children, priests, religious, and lay people, showed the depth of their faith by giving everything, including their lives, to Jesus. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College