Preet Anupam Beck csc.
Readings: 2 Sam 18: 9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30 -19: 3; Mk 5: 21-43
Through the gospel reading of the day, I am encouraged to have faith in Jesus even when faced with adversity, against all odds and even when nature seems to be working against me. The gospel passage presents two miracles in a short span. Both the miracles showcase the unwavering faith of the people involved. Jairus had the faith that if Jesus laid his hands on his daughter, she would live.
Similarly, the woman suffering from the discharge of blood believed that if she would touch even the garment of Jesus, she would be made clean. Jairus’s faith was rewarded for his faith as his daughter was raised to life, and the woman experienced healing as her bleeding ceased.
What strikes me here is that both individuals overcame their fears in approaching Jesus. The words of Jesus to Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe,” offer an everlasting reassurance. Fear makes us to consider the possibility of things not happening, while faith encourages us to trust in God, opening the possibilities of things happening according to the plan of God. It is crucial for me to place my faith in Jesus and gradually develop a faith like his, believing that all good things are possible with God.