When Hope Seems Lost, Have Faith
Gospel Reflection for July 7, 2025
“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.” (Mt. 9:18-26 NABRE)
We’ve all experienced moments of desperation, when all hope seemed lost and there appeared to be no way out of the dark. It’s difficult in such moments not to succumb to the consequential pain, sadness, hurt, loneliness, feeling lost, or whatever other emotions which result from the toughest moments of our lives.
This is most likely the exact same situation both the official and the woman had found themselves in, in today’s Gospel. The official was anguished from the death of his daughter and the woman was suffering from the very prolonged illness of hemorrhaging.
Yet, though all hope was seemingly gone and there was no rational reason to believe the girl’s life or the woman’s health could be restored, the official and the woman both trusted immensely in the power of God by turning to Jesus in faith. They believed in Him and knew that they need only go to Him, and He would set them free from their pain and suffering.
In response to their incredible faith, Jesus raised the official’s daughter back to life and healed the woman who had been plagued with poor health for twelve years.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that no matter how desperate a situation appears to be, we must respond with faith and trust in our Lord Jesus to deliver us from our struggles. Regardless of how severe the circumstances are, and regardless of how long the pain and struggles have endured, we must never lose hope.
Jesus is with us every step of the way, supporting us in carrying our crosses. We must trust in Him and know that just as His cross led to triumph, so will ours. May we follow the example of the official and the woman in today’s passage by turning to Jesus with immense faith even in the most hopeless of situations.