Both healings in today's Gospel passage display an astounding boldness. Both Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage thought big; they believed big. Jairus asked Jesus to raise his daughter from the dead (Mt 9:18). The woman believed that merely touching Jesus, without bothering Him by engaging Him in conversation, would bring her healing (Mt 9:21).
Jesus was evidently pleased at their bold, expectant faith. To the woman, Jesus said: "Your faith has restored you to health" (Mt 9:22). Jairus said: "My daughter has just died. Please come and lay Your hand on her and she will come back to life" (Mt 9:18). Jairus knew his daughter was dead, yet he asked in great faith. "Jesus stood up and followed" Jairus (Mt 9:19). Jesus is ready to respond to such expectant faith.
The apostles and disciples were being threatened and persecuted. They gathered together and prayed in bold, expectant, and trusting faith. "The place where they were gathered shook as they prayed. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God's word with confidence" (Acts 4:31).
In one instance when a man had a son who was possessed by a demon, the man said to Jesus: "If You can..." Jesus immediately responded: " ‘If you can'? Everything is possible to a man who trusts" (Mk 9:23). Are you unsure of Jesus' power and love? Respond as that man did: "I do believe! Help my lack of trust!" (Mk 9:24)
| PRAYER: | Lord, "increase our faith" (Lk 17:5). |
| PROMISE: | "I will espouse you to Me forever." –Hos 2:21 |
| PRAISE: | Obeying the Lord in regard to fasting, Carol saw a new outpouring of the Spirit in her life. |
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