DAILY- HOMILY

February 5, 2019 – Tuesday, 4th Week in Ordinary Time

St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

Memorial. Red.

Heb 12:1 – 4 / Mk 5: 21 – 43

[Chinese New Year]

St. Agatha (231 – 251) was martyred in Sicily during the persecution of Decius.

Gospel Reading:               Mk 5: 21 – 43

Jesus then crossed to the other side of the lake, and while he was still  on the shore, a large crowd gathered around him. Jairus, an official of the synagogue, came up and, seeing Jesus, threw himself at his feet, and begged him earnestly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may get well and live."

Jesus went with him, and many people followed, pressing from every side. Among the crowd was a woman, who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a lot at the hands of many doctors, and had spent everything she had, but instead of getting better, she was worse. Because she had heard about Jesus, this woman came up behind him and touched his cloak, thinking, "If I just touch his clothing, I shall get well." Her flow of blood dried up at once, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her complaint.

But Jesus was conscious that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd, and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" His disciples answered, "You see how the people are crowding around you. Why do you ask who touched you?" But he kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, aware of what had happened, came forward trembling and afraid. She knelt before him, and told him the whole truth.

Then Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of this illness."

While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from the official's house to inform him, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Master any further?" But Jesus ignored what they said, and told the official, "Do not fear, just believe." And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house, Jesus saw a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. Jesus entered and said to them, "Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep."

They laughed at him. So Jesus sent them outside, and went with the child's father and mother and his companions into the room, where the child lay. Taking her by the hand, he said to her, "Talitha kumi!" which means, "Little girl, get up!"

The girl got up at once and began to walk around. (She was twelve years old.) The parents were astonished, greatly amazed. Jesus strictly ordered them not to let anyone know about it; and he told them to give her something to eat.

REFLECTION

It is clear in this Gospel that Christ has the power over life and death. The death that the Lord can overcome for us is not only physical death but also the daily and seemingly endless "deaths," failures and disappointments in our lives: our plans don't work, our pride and feelings are hurt, frustration and depression come.

So many times life may seem to have lost meaning and thus we enter into a kind of "death." By the example of his life and his death on the Cross, Christ has taught us the real meaning of life, living and dying.

Dear Lord, teach us to live in the love of the Father.

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST. 

Have a good day!

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