Scripture:
Genesis 28:10-22a
Matthew 9:18-26
Reflection:
God’s Grace is at full display in today’s readings. God is so generous with his grace. We need only to have faith.
Imagine going to sleep and waking up with the promise of God on your mind. In his vision, Jacob was laying at the foot of the stairway to heaven. There were messengers going up and down the stairway to heaven delivering prayers and graces from God, but God took the time to visit Jacob in a dream and deliver His grace personally. God made a promise to Jacob and his faith in this promise completed the covenant. Jacob in return vowed that the Lord shall be his God and the stone shall be God’s abode, which represents the Holy Land.
In the Gospel of Matthew, an official’s daughter dies, and he seeks out Jesus for his healing power. He tells Jesus that he has faith that if only You will lay Your hand on my daughter she will live. Jesus follows the man home to answer his prayers and fulfill his wishes. On his journey to the official’s house, a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years sought out the healing power of Jesus by touching His cloak. She touched his tassel and it was automatic. Jesus felt her faith and the power drained from him and was in awe at her faith. Jesus said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.”
As Jesus reached the official’s home, He was met with unfaithful individuals who told him he was too late and to not even bother. Jesus immediately cleared the house of all the unbelievers. I think Jesus has no patience for those who have little or no faith. “He took her by the hand and the little girl arose and news of this spread throughout the land.”
God’s grace is enough. He heals our wounds and supplies us with our every need. We need only to have faith.
Deacon Peter Smith serves at St. Mary’s/Holy Family Parishes in Alabama, a religion teacher at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham, and a member of our extended Passionist Family.