Faith and Devotion
Gospel Reflection for July 8, 2024
“While he was saying these things to them, 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.’ Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, ‘If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.’ Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, ‘Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.’ And from that hour the woman was cured.
When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.” (Matt. 9:18-26 NABRE)
It is the faith of the official and of the woman in today’s Gospel which brought about such miraculous healings. This passage clearly teaches the immense importance of faith!!
The official and the woman both did whatever they could to reach Jesus. They took great lengths and demonstrated profound courage in approaching the Savior, in Whom they placed their faith. They did not give up in their mission to talk to Jesus, and to touch His cloak. They persevered in faith, trust, and devotion, and as a result of their unbounding belief, the Lord answered their prayers and granted healing.
They did not look to the world or to others for their hope, rather, they looked to God, acknowledging Him alone as their All in All.
We must follow the example of the woman and the official by going to Jesus in faith and by praying to our Lord with sincere devotion. When we go to the Lord earnestly, crying out to Him from our hearts, He hears and answers our prayers.
St. Gemma Galgani was often visited by her guardian angel, and one night he reminded her to pray tirelessly and with great care, regardless of how she was feeling.
“The Guardian Angel, while I was making my evening prayer, came near and touched me on the shoulder, saying: ‘Gemma, why such great distaste for prayer?’ No, I answered, it is not distaste. I have not been well for two days, and he added: ‘do thy part assiduously and Jesus, thou wilt see, will love thee still more.’”1
May we too, do our part and truly demonstrate our faith and devotion to God. When we go to Him in faith and trust, He will lovingly hear us and be present to us, just as He was there for the official and the woman.
Venerable Fr. Germanus, The Life of St. Gemma Galgani (Charlotte, NC: TAN Books, 2012), 200.
In despair I heard folks say, indeed I heard myself say many times,"well I can always pray". So what is wrong with that? Praying is never wrong, but our attitude can be. We sometimes think we are the savior and must fix everything. However, when all else fails we turn to pray as the last effort. We tend to have the attitude it can't hurt, so we might as well try it. The truth is prayer should be our first effort! We pray and tell God He can use us if He wills and as He wills. The Surrender Novena and Prayer is a great prayer. Pray it daily, and then let God be in control.
Amen.