Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 10, 2023
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.
Reflection
So many times, when I am going through struggles in life, I tend to think that I am alone with no one to help me. As a result, I bottle up my feelings. I’ve realized that I lack the courage to let anyone else know what’s really going on or to ask for any sort of help. I’m afraid that their answer will be no, that they will see me as a burden, or that my problems will be beyond any help.
What we see in this passage is two examples of courage. Courage from the father to call out to Jesus to bring his daughter back to life even though everyone told him she was already dead, and courage from the hemorrhaging woman to reach out to touch Jesus’ cloak in hopes of healing when years of time, money, and doctors had brought her no relief.
I imagine given their circumstances it would be all too easy to be overcome by hopelessness and fear. It’s inspiring to see the faith these two people demonstrated with the situations they were given. They placed their hope fully in God.
They didn’t know what the outcome would be. They didn’t know if the answer would be no. At this point in Jesus’ earthly ministry, the disciples definitely saw anyone asking for Jesus’ time as an additional burden. But these two weren’t afraid that their problems were beyond help and what a gift—Jesus was ready to help them!
No matter how silly I think my problems and worries are, this passage reminds me that God’s mercy is immeasurable and he is always willing to come to our aid with an open heart. May we all be courageous with God and trust God will be ready to love and heal each one of us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, the Word-made-flesh, your gentle touch, your gracious words, your loving and compassionate heart heal, raise up, and restore us to life. Give us what we need today to live in accord with your holy will, and strengthen our resolve to follow you faithfully amid the struggles and worries of life. For you alone can give us what we most need, and you are Lord forever and ever.
Saint of the Day
Amelia, or Amalberga, was a noblewoman who lived in Belgium in the eighth century. She and her brother were raised in a devout household and she wanted to give her life to God as a religious sister.
In her legend, her beauty is said to have caught the eye of the young man who would become King Charlemagne. He became obsessed with Amelia and asked for her hand in marriage. She had dedicated her virginity to God, and refused. He persisted, and one day, as she was praying at a church, he tried to pull her away and ended up breaking her arm.
In some stories, her arm healed almost instantly, and Charlemagne withdrew his request. In other stories, he withdrew his request, but became ill; Amelia forgave him and prayed for his healing and he recovered.
She died at the age of 31 and there are many miraculous stories attributed to her. In one account, she crossed a lake by riding on the back of a giant sturgeon fish. She is patron saint of those suffering from bruises and arm pain.
The relics of St. Amelia rest in the reliquary chapel, and she is shown in this stained glass window in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame's campus.
St. Amelia, you are patron saint of people with broken arms—pray for us!