Necessity of Faith

Today’s Gospel Text:  While he was thus speaking to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." 19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; 21 for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well." 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd making a tumult, 24 he said, "Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district. Matt 9:18-26

Reflection: One has to be either a mad man to approach someone, in order to raise a dead man or a perfectly sane man, with a faith, that communicates boldness. 

One of the qualities of faith is boldness, where there is no shame.  This boldness flows from a sound knowledge, a sure dedication to the truth and total trust in what one believes.  A boldness based on truth is self sacrificial and willing to face the ignominy of life, for the sake of others.

The ruler in today's gospel was a great example of such sacrificial love. For the sake of his daughter he was willing face the ignominy of a possible foolish request.  For how many have approached Jesus to give life to a dead person and what if his desire would not have been fulfilled or what if the crowd that he was addressing had laughed at him. Who can endure a public shame?

On the other hand we have people who are bold about many matters in the world. Some are bold enough to strip themselves, some are bold enough to tell a lie, some are bold enough to abuse their office and be corrupt, some are bold enough to take a dagger and kill, and some are bold enough to practice all types of corruption.

Yet, if one enters into the psyche of these individuals, whose boldness rests on immorality, we find a certain cowardice element at work in the long run. These are self centered cowards who live for the moment. 

The world still is in need of a faith that is not afraid to proclaim Christ, as did the ruler. This is proclamation by one’s action which is fruit of a resolute non-shrinkable solid faith.   In such faith God is glorified and not the self.

This is the kind of faith that pleases God (cfr. Hb. 11:6)

    

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.”  Heb 13:7

Prayer:  God our Father, as the wickedness in the world increases, we ask you to guide us, your children, that our faith may never grow cold in the face of hostility towards your holy name.  (cfr. Mt. 24: 12-13)

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