Dear Friends,
On this thirteenth Sunday in ordinary time, the readings remind us of purpose of the abundant blessings God ceaselessly pours upon us: they are aimed at transforming lives and the world around us.
The two stories in the Gospel are mind openers. God who lifts us up from the ashes of our nothingness to share with us His life, wants us to do likewise to those in need around us. But before that, we need one thing: faith and assurance in God. Faith makes us confront and face with courage every obstacles in our life, knowing that we are never alone. The woman would have stayed with her predicament still did not she break the barriers of fear, shame and opposition. Trembling and confident, she knew that there was no alternative. That was the time, that was her time.
When we look at ourselves, we can relate to this woman, carrying with us and in us the load of our fears and struggles. But, unlike her, we do not need to struggle to touch Christ. He has already made himself available to us in the Eucharist we celebrate and receive, as well as in other sacraments. We need just to open our hearts to let Him heal us.
Faith is what Christ praises in both people in the gospel: the woman and the official who came to ask for help on behalf of his daughter. To the first He says, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.” The word “daughter” her determines the kind of relationship Christ is leading the woman to enter into. She should experience ethe love and care of the Father who never despises his children. Christ gives her assurance that she is now safe and healed with her return to the Father’s house. Fear and shame keep us away from the love of the Father manifested in Christ. Once we face it with faith and trust, there is nothing that could pull us back and take us away from the compassionate and merciful hands of the Father.
Likewise to the official Christ says, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” This is what Christ expects from us: Faith. The one that can make us move mountains. We see here the mountains moved from the lives of both the woman and the official whose daughter is brought back to life.
You and I are always terrified by the load of challenges we carry in our daily life. We are afraid of coming closer to the Lord to ask for help and healing. Today, He wants these words sound also in our ears: “I say to you, arise!” Arise and take the journey of salvation alongside the Lord. Arise, and embrace the love of God in Christ. Arise, and stretch your arms like Christ to embrace and heal those around you for Christ has freed you from every bondage. And from this richness we are meant to share with others and transform their lives. For Christ who became poor to make us rich, wants us to be like Him and change lives and the world around us. Arise! Fear no more and transform the world, because you and I are the instruments Christ has chosen to make the difference in the world.
May the Lord bless us all as we continue to pray for one another and for our parish family.
Fr. Emery