Touched and Healed

Mark 5: 21-43
2 Sm 18: 9-10, 14, 24-25,
30 – 19:3 / Ps 86:1-6

“Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
(Mark 5:34)

A little faith can gain so much
Once we give in to plans divine,
And from our pain His healing touch
Will transform us to God’s design.

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around Him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet. He pleaded earnestly with Him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around Him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, thinking, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples answered, “You see the people crowding against you,and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at His feet and, trembling with fear, told Him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow Him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After He put them all out, He took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with Him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Reflection

When Jesus sailed back to Capernaum from the Gerasene district, two people of different social status were eagerly awaiting His return: Jairus, a synagogue official, and un unnamed woman considered as a social outcast. They were both in similar desperate straits: Jairus’ 12 year old daughter was on the point of death, while the woman had a 12-year old hemorrhaging affliction. Both also shared the belief in the power of touch: Jairus, asking Jesus to lay His hand on his daughter to heal her; and the woman thinking that if she could only touch Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. Both of them received the Lord’s healing power because of their faith.

These two persons in Mark’s Gospel had only heard about Jesus, but both believed that He was their last and only recourse. The woman with the hemorrhage believed that even just the clothes of the Lord had the ‘magical’ power to heal her, and her faith moved Jesus’ healing grace to flow to her. But being ‘unclean’, she was greatly in fear when it was discovered that she had touched Jesus (making Him and others she came in contact with ritually ‘unclean’ also). But our Lord assured her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” Our Lord had good reason to stop and confront the woman who had secretly touched His garment. It was to let her know that it was her faith, and not His clothes possessing any magical power that caused her healing. The interruption was also Jesus’ way of testing the faith of Jairus, whose impatience by then must have been obvious because of the delay. But he kept his peace even when it seemed they were too late. He believed Jesus that He could bring his daughter back to life.

Many Christians today still believe in the ‘spiritual powers’ of relics of saints or holy objects, and even ‘miraculous water’ from springs under grottos that heal them of various afflictions. We once had a natural grotto in our farm where we put a statue of our Blessed Mother. Many people claimed that they were healed of their ailments when they prayed at the grotto. One day, the ‘miraculous’ statue was stolen. If only the thief believed in God’s compassion for the sick, he would realize that it was their prayers that led to the healing of the devotees and not the statue. Nothing is impossible if we reach out to God for our healing.

Thank You, Father for making us see that the purpose of Your miracles is not only to show us Your compassion, but also to increase our faith. Amen.

The Power of God’s Word

Mark 5:1-20
2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13/ Ps 3:2-7

He pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory.
(Mark 5:10)

Avoid any form of obsession
It will lead us away from the Lord;
From the evil spirits’ possession,
Be freed by the power of God’s Word.

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet Him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with Him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (Mark 5:1-20)

Reflection

The territory of the Gerasenes (or “Gadarenes” in Matthew 8:28) was considered to be heathen territory, and lay in the easternmost shore of the lake of Galilee. The apostles had just experienced an awesome display of Jesus’ divine power in calming natural forces, such as the winds and turbulent waves as they were crossing over to the other side of the lake. This time they witnessed His power over the evil supernatural forces, thus proving that He was really the Son of God.

The authority that Jesus displayed in the pagan territory of the Gerasenes in casting out the legion of evil spirits from the demoniac signalled the start of the conversion of the gentiles. He did not want the man freed of evil spirits to go with Him, because Jesus wanted him to be His herald, to “announce to them all that the lord in His pity has done for you.” And indeed the man went off to proclaim to the whole Decapolis region what Jesus had done for him. (Mk. 5:19-20)

What is the Word of God telling us in this long Gospel passage? First, that the reality of being possessed by the devil cannot be taken for granted. The legion of Satan had sovereignty over the Gerasenes because the people there were non-believers. They did not want to have anything to do with Jesus even when our Lord had purged their land of evil spirits. If we are more obsessed with our material possessions than with the Good News of salvation, then we are more vulnerable to being possessed by evil spirits. But this Gospel passage also tells us about the love and mercy of God, which extend even to non-believers. Jesus took the trouble to visit that pagan territory to free them from the bondage of Satan, even if He was not welcomed there. Finally, this episode also reminds us that if we hold fast to the Word of God, to our faith, and to the teachings of our Church, we have the hope of the Holy Spirit countering the forces of Satan, who has already been defeated by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, let your Holy Spirit keep me steadfast in faith, persevering in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ, that I may never be swayed again by the evil one. Amen.

The Faith of a Child

Mark 4: 35-41
2 Sm 12: 1-7, 10-17/ Ps 51: 12-17

Why are you afraid? Do you not yet have faith?
(Mark 4:40)

In every storm we face on earth,
Christ’s in the stern when we leave berth.
Don’t be afraid, or hesitate,
Trials only serve to form our faith.

One day, as evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Master, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:35-41)

Reflection

Wearied by the day’s chores, Jesus had fallen asleep on the boat’s stern. Suddenly, a storm arose, and big waves started to swamp their boat. The apostles woke up Jesus, saying, “Master, don’t you care if we drown?”

I recall the time when we were in Talikud Island, Samal City, and we spotted a fishing vessel a kilometer from shore. We ventured out to see if the fishermen had any catch that we could buy. But when we were halfway there, the wind turned up and our little outrigger began to be tossed about by the waves. My niece and her friend were with us, and I was starting to worry. But not the two kids. They were merrily enjoying the banca ride, confident in their uncle’s presence.

In times of turbulence in our life, children sometimes have more faith that things will eventually work out than we do. When in fact, we should know better that we have a more reliable Father we can depend on. Jesus slept soundly in the storm because He knew well that His life was in His Father’s hands. That was not the case with His disciples. We find ourselves identifying with them in the frailty of our faith. When we are in a tight spot, don’t we at times pray, “Lord, don’t You care that I am now sinking in this problem?” And many times, when the storm has passed, we realize how little faith we have. “Why fear? Where is your faith?” God seems to be asking us.

Most of our trials in life end in victories. In fact, God allows trials to build our faith. They mold us to become mature Christians. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,” St. James said, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) Jesus said unless we become like little children we cannot be worthy of Him. Perhaps what our Lord meant was that we must trust God fully like a child. Because the child of God is never left to face a storm alone. Jesus is always there with us, with the same power to calm the waves that we are so fearful of. We only need to have the same trust that we used to have as children. He will see us through.

We put our faith and trust in you, Father, as we walk fearlessly amidst all the turbulences in life. We have Your promise in Psalm 91: “I rescue all who cling to me, I protect whoever knows my name; I answer everyone who invokes me, I am with them when they are in trouble; I bring them safety and honor; I give them life, long and full, and show them how I can save” (Ps 91:14-16). Amen.

Growing by God’s Grace

Mark 4: 26-34
2 Sm 11: 1-4, 5-10, 13-17/ Ps 51:3-7, 10-11

…night and day, the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how.
(Mark 4:27)

The Word we’ve sown God makes it grow,
In faithful hearts it will take root;
How it has grown we may not know,
But it will bear abundant fruit.

Jesus said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Again He said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when He was alone with His own disciples, He explained everything. (Mark 4:26-34)

Reflection

Most of the lessons that Jesus taught were related to seeds, trees and sowing as these were familiar to the Jews, Israel being basically an agricultural country. Thus, He taught that a tree is known by its fruit; seeds that fall into fertile soil produce a hundredfold; an enemy can sow weeds among the wheat; the kingdom is like a landowner hiring workers in his vineyard; and the Pharisees are like the unworthy tenants. Jesus also described His relationship with his disciples by using the image of the vine and its branches. “I am the vine, you are the branches.” (John 15:5)

As in any agricultural venture, success can only come from a cooperative effort. God employs us to sow the seeds of His Gospel. We do not know how, but He nourishes the Word that we have planted in the hearts of our listeners (or readers). Some would turn away, others would attend for a while, and still others would persevere but only as fence-sitters. But there are a few who turn out to be the best of the crop, and through them the Good News will flourish like so many branches. Numbers are not that important to God. It is the quality of His tenants. Nor do we have to worry about the size of our ministry, or our efforts. However small our share may be, God will use it for an important purpose. Trust God to make it grow into the biggest shrub. Who can tell how God can employ a small act of kindness to break a stubborn heart?

Who can see the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in words of encouragement or inspiring text messages? We are God’s sowers, His instruments of propagating His kingdom here on earth. As St. Paul said, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Cor.4:7). But we who sow God’s Word are blessed by His Word too, because the Word of God is living and effective (Heb 4:12), and lives in the hearts of those who profess it. That is why our ministry is never ending; as long as we walk on this earth, it will keep on growing like the mustard tree, and by the grace of God, will keep on bearing fruit.

Lord, thank You for employing me in Your vineyard, and helping me grow stronger in the nourishment of Your Word. Your Holy Spirit enables my complete transformation to become a worthy tenant of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let the Light of Truth Shine!

Mark 4:21-25
2Tim 1:1-8 / Psa 96

Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bushel basket or under a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?
(Mark 4:21)

For those who seek to know God’s Word
All things hidden will be revealed;
Walk in the light and be assured
Your salvation will be fulfilled.

Jesus said to (His disciples), “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bushel basket or under a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear. Consider carefully what you hear,” He continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has, more will be given; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:21-25)

Reflection

What our Lord is saying in this passage is: whoever has learned the message of the Gospel is compelled to spread this Good News to others, for the Word of God can never be hidden, and its mysterious meanings will eventually enlighten all believers in Christ Jesus. But only those who listen with a receptive heart will be transformed. And only those who put God’s Word into action in their lives will be fruitful. In many of His parables, Jesus emphasized concrete action in order to become productive. In His parable of the talents, it is the servant who invests his master’s money who gets his master’s reward. It is the wise builder who builds his house on a rocky foundation. It is the diligent trader who seeks and finds the pearl of great price, and sells all of his possessions to acquire it. It is the alert bridesmaids who bring extra oil who are not left out of the wedding party. And it is the man who is willing to take up his cross to follow Jesus who will be worthy of Him and His kingdom.

Whoever produces, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not produce, even what he has shall be taken away from him.’ It’s the simple principle of progression in everything in life. For instance, as a runner, I’ve learned that the more regularly I run, the stronger my muscles and cardiovascular resistance grow. And the farther and faster the mileage and time. The same goes for our faith to grow stronger. Unless we practice it constantly in good works, prayers, and in evangelization, we cannot expect spiritual growth and productivity. Instead, without exerting any effort, our faith, like idle muscles will tend to atrophy. Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack a good measure, pressed down, full and running over.” (Lk.6:38)

“Whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” Nothing can be hidden from the eyes of God. And even in the eyes of men, truth will eventually prevail. That is why we strive to “be honest even if others are not, even if others cannot, even if others will not.” Honesty is its own reward. For the sake of truth, we give ourselves to the Lord, as the Lord gave Himself to us. More than material goods, He will give us more in wisdom and revelation. May we be Christ’s light-bearers to counter the falsehood and darkness of a world in sin.

Lord, Your Word is the guiding light of my life. Let me never fall into the darkness of sin again, so that I may see Your ways clearly and discern fully Your will. Help me to radiate the light of Your Word to others in all that I say and do. Amen.

The Commission of St. Paul

Mark 16:15-18
Acts 22:3-16 / Psa 117

Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved… whoever does not believe will be condemned.
(Mark 16:15-16)

Do I live as Jesus’ witness?
Have I been a channel of His Word?
Does my life reflect God’s goodness?
Then all His promises are assured.

Jesus said to His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mk 16:15-18)

Reflection

Today our Church celebrates the feast of St. Paul’s conversion. Among the most ardent apostles of Jesus, St. Paul of Tarsus must have received the hardest commission of all. This ‘Apostle to the Gentiles’ was “special”, because he never saw his Master in the flesh. He was the only chosen apostle who never walked with or heard the teachings of our Lord. In fact he was on a different kind of mission when the Spirit of Jesus “intercepted” him on his way to Damascus. Educated as a Pharisee, he was a natural-born Roman citizen who hated the early Christians for their perceived “blasphemy”. He was the last apostle, but turned out to be the foremost evangelist of Jesus Christ.

In preaching the Good News throughout the Gentile world, St. Paul lived out the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel. In His Name he drove out evil spirits (Acts 16:18). He “spoke in new tongues” as his proclamation of the Word of God was understood by all the peoples in the different countries that he visited. The converts on whom he laid hands to baptize them in the Holy Spirit also spoke in tongues and prophesied (Acts 19:6). Shipwrecked in the island of Malta, St. Paul accidentally held a poisonous viper, but he was not harmed (Acts 28:3-5). He had no occasion to drink poison, but when a young man was killed, falling from the third floor of a building, St. Paul was able to bring him back to life by embracing him (Acts 20:10-12). St. Paul followed the mandate of Jesus Christ to the letter, and never wavered in his God-given mission. In his farewell speech in Miletus, he said, “In one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:23-24).

In following Jesus’ call to repentance, conversion, and preaching of the Gospel, let St. Paul be our model. Like St. Paul’s, may our mission be a personal one, full of faith in God’s power, hope in His eternal reward, and motivated by love for His Word and for those to whom His Holy Spirit sends us. Those who have received the commission of Jesus Christ to be heralds of the Gospel are living a new life in the Holy Spirit. There is reason to rejoice and be glad, despite the trials that we might face. For we believe that the risen Lord is working in us through the power of His Spirit, and we are so privileged to share in this task of St. Paul and his fellow martyrs.

Speak to me in my heart, Lord God, on what I must do in order to be worthy of this gift of faith. Dear St. Paul of Tarsus, pray for me that I may gain even just a little of the grace that God gave you to proclaim His Gospel, and make a difference in the lives of others as you did for the early Christian Church. Amen.