Homily for July 1, 2018.
“’Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’” Mark 5:35-36.
Just yesterday, we read about a centurion who came to Jesus to plead for the life of his servant who was on the verge of dying. Today, we are presented with the story of how Jarius, a synagogue official came to Jesus to plead for his daughter whose life was also at the point of death. And in between, we find the story of a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years.
Dear friends, if there is one lesson we must learn from today’s readings, it is the fact that God respects not only the contents of our prayers but the contents of our hearts; the mindset, the attitude with which we approach God to request for anything.
Indeed, words are not so necessary for prayer. As Jesus told the Centurion, “it will be done to you as you believe.” Do you notice that in the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, she didn’t speak a single word to Jesus? All that was needed for her healing was her faith. She believed completely that even without prayer, a single touch would bring about her total healing.
We may use words in prayer, but it is not what we say to God that matters but the faith we apply to the words. We may shout and jump, we may speak in tongues or even cut ourselves like the prophets of Baal but so long as we are not expecting anything from God, so long as we do not believe God is capable of doing anything, so long as we assume the situation is beyond the power of God, our words are powerless.
Jarius went to call Jesus when his daughter was on the verge of dying. He believed Jesus could do something to prevent her from dying. Like Jarius, most of us believe God can prevent death from happening. Most of us believe God can act before our worst fears come to pass, but then, how many of us believe that even after death, God can still do something? How many of us believe that even after that our situation is long gone and buried like that of Lazarus, God can still change things?
Before Jesus got to Jarius’ house, some persons came to him to say there is no need to trouble the Master anymore. They asked: “Why bother Jesus since your daughter is now dead?” This question is like saying: “What can Jesus do after death?” Dear friends, am I one of such persons? Do I believe God has power over death? I may sing it all day, but deep down within me, do I truly believe that there is no situation beyond the power of God?
Do I have the kind of faith that is not discouraged by the worsening of my circumstances? Even if Medical doctors were to bring a damaging report, will I continue to trust God? Will I continue to expect the best possible outcome? If I don’t believe God has power over death, it means I have put a limit to what God is capable of doing and indeed, it follows that I am not even worthy of being in God’s presence. No wonder, as soon as Jesus got to the house, he drove all the faithless sympathizers away.
Doubting God is dangerous. It is disrespect of the highest order. As the book of Hebrews says: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6. Even Jesus did not work miracles in his own town because of the people’s doubt. As Matthew puts it: “And they took offence at him…And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.” Matthew 13:57-58.
When the report of his faithless friends got to Jarius, he was obviously shaken. But just before he could open his mouth to say anything, Jesus spoke first. Jesus did not want Jarius to use his mouth to declare negativity. It was like shutting him up like Zechariah whose mouth was closed. Jesus quickly said to him: DO NOT FEAR, ONLY BELIEVE.
Dear friends, let these words of Jesus ring a bell in your heart today. The same Jesus who spoke those words to Jarius is right here with us today in the Blessed Sacrament. Listen to him once again saying these words to you right now: “Do not fear, only believe.” As the Psalmist would sing: “Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10. Be still, let go of your fears, relax, just believe. Believe that there is no situation beyond the power of God. Believe that not even death is beyond God.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, increase my faith, save me from faithlessness and negativity. Strengthen my prayer life that my words may not contradict my heart. Amen.
*Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B. Bible Study: Wisdom 1:13-24, Psalm 30:2-13, 2nd Corinthians 8:7-15, Mark 5:21-43).*
Fr. Abu
No comments:
Post a Comment