DAILY GOSPEL COMMENTARY: “YOUR FAITH HAS SAVED YOU.”
(Mt 9:18-26).
Gospel of Monday, 14th week in Ordinary Time
Mt 9:18-26
While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured.
When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.
Gospel Commentary from the Navarre Bible, Commentary to the Gospel of St. Matthew (with permission)
- 18 “Knelt before him”: the eastern way of showing respect to God or to important people. In the liturgy, especially in the presence of the Blessed Eucharist, reverences are a legitimate and appropriate external sign of internal faith and adoration.
- 18-26 Here are two miracles which occur almost simultaneously. From parallel passages in Mark (5:21-43) and Luke (8:40-56) we know that the “ruler” (of the synagogue) referred to here was called Jairus. The Gospels report Jesus raising three people to life – this girl, the son of the widow of Nain, and Lazarus. In each case the identity of the person is clearly given.
- This account shows us, once again, the role faith plays in Jesus’ saving actions. In the case of the woman with the haemorrhage we should note that Jesus is won over by her sincerity and faith: she does not let obstacles get in her way. Similarly, Jairus does not care what people will say; a prominent person in his city, he humbles himself before Jesus for all to see.
- 23 “The flute players”: engaged to provide music at wakes and funerals.
- 24 “Depart, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping”: Jesus says the same thing about Lazarus: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him” (Jn 11:11).
- Although Jesus speaks of sleep, there is no question of the girl — or Lazarus, later — not being dead. For our Lord there is only one true death — that of eternal punishment (cf. Mt 10:28).
VIDEO REFLECTION TOPIC: WILL IT BE TOO LATE FOR YOU TO REALIZE WHAT ARE THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IN LIFE?
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus heals two people: a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years and the dying daughter of a synagogue official. We reflect today on our own lives – on our faith in God in the face of our own crises in our our health, our finances, our relationships.
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