13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.”

Mk 5:21-43

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

This woman’s condition was also desperate. A curious point. The story of this woman is also found in St. Luke’s gospel. In St. Luke’s gospel, however, nothing is said about suffering at the hands of many doctors, spending all that she had and in the end only got worse. Someone asked why St. Luke omitted these details. The explanation was that St. Luke was a doctor. In fact, he became the personal physician of St. Paul. And being a doctor, he could not include something that made his profession look bad.

She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”

Did the woman believe that the clothes of Jesus possess some kind of power? Of course not. She knew that the clothes of Jesus will not cure her. It is Jesus who will do that. Why did she touch his clothes then? She touched his clothes as a way of getting connected with Jesus who she believed had the power of healing.

Some Catholics scandalize Protestants because they behave in a way as if statues or medals or prayers possess some kind of power. Statues and medals do not have power. Prayers are not magic formulas. But we can use statues and medals to help us raise our minds and hearts to God. Prayers are words by which our hearts reach out to God. And once in contact with God, we lay bare our hearts and tell him all our needs.

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.”

God can not do anything for us unless we put our faith in him. We have to believe that God can and will take care of us.

I will relate two instances from Don Bosco.

Our mother house in Turin occupies a whole block. But it all started with the Pinardi shed. The owner had always said that he would never sell his house under 3,000 pounds. After much haggling, Mr. Pinardi agreed to sell it for 1,200 pounds. Cash. In one week’s time. If Don Bosco failed to come up with the money, he would owe Mr. Pinardi 4,000 pounds! Don Bosco did not have the money. Mama Margaret asked, “But where are you going to find the money? We have nothing but debts.” Don Bosco replied, “Come, mother, if you had money, would you not give me some?” “Of course.” “Well and good. Why should you think that the Lord, who is rich, will be less generous?” Believe it or not, three benefactors came and in less than a week Don Bosco was able to pay for the house.

When St. John Bosco was nine years old, Jesus revealed to him his mission in life. He was to become a priest who would devote himself for the good of young people. At that time it seemed an impossible dream. His stepbrother violently opposed his desire to study. And even if he were not opposed, they didn’t have the money. They were just too poor. But he believed that if that was what God wanted him to do, God would find a way. And God did provide. He became a priest and he founded the Salesian Society and the Salesian Sisters to continue his work for young people. At the end of his life, Don Bosco had this regret, “If only I had more faith, I could have done more.” And yet, Don Bosco’s achievement was already monumental.

Putting our faith in God does not mean that God will always grant what we ask for. It doesn’t always mean that health will be restored or that someone will be saved from death. It doesn’t always mean that our money problems will be solved. Putting our faith in God means that we believe that God loves us and that God is so powerful that in the end everything will turn out OK for us.