GOSPEL

July 9, 2018 (Monday) 14th Week in Ordinary Time St. Augustine Zhao Rong, priest & companions, martyrs Psalter: Week 2 / (Green/Red) Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 The Lord is gracious and merciful.

1st Reading: Hos 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22

So I am going to allure her, lead her once more into the desert, where I can speak to her tenderly.

Then I will give back her vineyards, make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There, she will answer me, as in her youth, as when she came out of the land of Egypt. On that day, Yahweh says, you will call me my husband, and never again: My Baal.

You will be my spouse forever, betrothed in justice and integrity; we will be united in love and tenderness. I will espouse you in faithfulness; and you will come to know Yahweh.

Gospel: Mt 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking to them, an official of the synagogue came up to him, bowed before him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.” Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples.

Then a woman, who had suffered from a severe bleeding for 12 years, came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak; for she thought, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned, saw her and said, “Courage, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from that moment, the woman was cured.

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said, “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!” And they laughed at him. But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.

Reflection:

Your faith has saved you.

For the Jews, blood is sacred, because it symbolizes life which comes from God alone. To shed one’s own or another’s blood was a serious offense against God. The woman hemorrhaged for 12 years, and so was deemed a grievous sinner. And because her defilement contaminated those around her, she was cast out of the village.

Her healing was a multidimensional experience of the coming of God’s kingdom into her life: Physically, she was cured; socially, she was reconciled with her family and villagers; spiritually, she was forgiven by God; religiously, she could worship once more in the Temple.