Tuesday of the 4th week in the ordinary time of the year A
Theme: Your Faith!
Today the church celebrates the memorial of St. John Bosco, a priest and the founder of the Salesian order. He had special interest in the care of the poor and neglected boys who were in search of work in the city. This interest greatly informed his pastoral ministry and the life of the Salesian order. He was greatly concerned about the well being of the poor and young people in the society. By so doing living a selfless life that added value to the lives of other people who were less fortunate. This his way of life, is worthy of emulation by you and I who are Christians in our own time. Giving the less privileged in our society the reason to continue to trust in God and hope for a better tomorrow, irrespective of what is happening at the moment in their lives. This was also seen in the life of Jesus, adding value to the lives of all those who encountered him at one time or the other.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, this is seen also in the gospel reading of today, in the lives of Jairus daughter and the woman with the issue of blood. He brought the little girl back to life and restored the woman. One thing that is very clear in both healings in today’s gospel is the fact that they both exhibited their faith in God. It is only faith in God that can give us confidence and courage to act, even when it is as if all hope is lost. We see that in the case of the small girl, when the message was brought to the father that she has died, and also in the case of the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years. This simply shows that there is nothing God cannot do, especially when we have faith in God. In view of this dearly beloved in Christ, let us continue to pray for increase in faith and the grace of perseverance, especially when we are faced with difficult situations in our life.
Dear friends in Christ, it is time for you to present that challenging situation in your life and family to God, with faith and confidence in him; just like the woman with the issue of blood. Do not allow what people would say shut you up, but rather have faith and reach out to God. He did not disappoint neither Jairus nor the woman with the issue of blood, and he will not also disappoint you. Just have faith and reach out to God, and see how he will respond to that situation in your life that has brought you pain and sorrow. May almighty God bless you as you reach out to God in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.