Tuesday Reflection written by Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020122.cfm
Today we heard about 3 people in the depths of despair:
- King David had lost his son Absalom in battle, and David wept bitterly.
- Jairus, the synagogue official, had a young daughter who was dying, and he pleaded earnestly for healing.
- An older woman had hemorrhaged for 12 years and was desperate for physical and emotional relief.
What they had in common, besides their grief and suffering, was faith.
We know of David’s faith by reading today’s responsorial Psalm 86, which he is credited with writing. It is thought he prayed it often and encouraged others to pray it, too, when they were in distress. He says so plainly and simply words we’ve probably often uttered in our own hearts in our own way:
‘Listen, Lord, and answer me.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading’.
We know of Jairus’ faith when he seeks out Jesus to come and lay hands on his very sick daughter. How comforting to Jairus must have been Jesus’ words when the others told him that his daughter had died and advised him not to bother Jesus anymore. Jesus, however, looked lovingly at Jairus and said: “Do not be afraid. Just have faith.” That was surely a test of faith!
And then we have the older woman who longed for relief, so much so that she dared to reach out in faith and just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Once Jesus became aware of her, he looked at her with great compassion and said: “Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” Can you imagine her relief at being cured so tenderly?
If nothing else, our readings today are teaching us to step out boldly in faith, like King David, the woman and Jairus did. They were asking God for healing, and we can confidently do the same…for ourselves, for others, and for our broken world. The Scriptures tell us over and over that Jesus wants to heal us, perhaps in ways we couldn’t presume or imagine.
Today, in our prayer, we are being challenged to be humble like David, courageous like the woman and trusting like Jairus. When we express our faith in the Lord, like they did, who knows what healing could occur.
‘Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.’ Ps. 86
