Tuesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time
Heb 12:1-4
Mk 5:21-43
“…your faith has restored you…”
How often do we wallow in despair or self-pity when we find ourselves in trouble, or in a less than desirable state? Yet, when we see others in need, or when they come to us with prayer requests, we find in ourselves the faith to tell them that “it is okay” or“God will answer your prayers.”
Well, a good example of such a person is me. When I’m in some desperate situation, I start to self-doubt, beat myself up for landing myself in such a state, or give in to temptation to sin; but somehow, I don’t have the faith to truly trust in God that He will make all things right. On the other hand, when someone comes to me crying in desperation, I somehow muster the courage and faith to tell him or her that “all will be okay… just have faith in Jesus.”
I guess what is lacking in my life is the ability to just trust and let go, so that God can do His part. In today’s gospel (Mark 5:21-43), we have the synagogue official’s daughter who was dying, and the official had rushed to meet Jesus to ask Him to save his daughter. I guess it was his own faith that pushed him to seek the help of Jesus to heal his daughter; knowing in his heart that only Jesus could save his daughter in such a dire situation. Likewise for me, I am able to see, from a third person’s perspective, that Jesus is the author of life and is able to help the person who comes to me with a prayer request. The big question is, how can I translate that faith and apply it to myself when I’m faced with such a big problem, instead of being all negative and being a worrywart?
The other character in today’s Gospel is the haemorrhaging woman who touched the cloak of Jesus. Again, faith is what drove her to desire to touch just the cloak of Jesus. Would I be able to have in me the courage to just stretch out to touch Jesus and be saved, or healed, from whatever I am going through, however desperate the situation may be? Would I give everything and just trust completely that God will hear my prayer in my desperation?
In the midst of my suffering and pain, I guess it is comforting to hear the words that Jesus had for the two female characters in today’s Gospel. To the synagogue official’s daughter, “Talitha Kum” or “little girl, get up.” And to the haemorrhaging woman, “Your faith has restored you.” It speaks greatly of how much Jesus is so gentle and compassionate in His response to you and me, even when we are suffering and even dying, all we need is a little faith.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Lee)
Prayer: We pray for the gift of complete faith in Jesus, who is the author of life and master of everything.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Jesus, for your faithfulness in spite of my unfaithfulness.
OXYGEN 
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