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Having faith and taking action
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Cincinnati Enquirer/Kevin J. Miyazaki
Today’s Gospel is about having faith and taking action. There was a wonderful homily given this past year on today’s Gospel story (Mt 9:18-26) at St. Gabriel Church in Glendale. The most memorable part of that homily focuses on the story of the woman who touched Jesus’ garments just knowing that if she touched something he was wearing she would be healed.
This was the most memorable part for me because of the faith she needed to carryout her action. She had the kind of sickness that ostracized her from the rest of society. She wasn’t allowed in public and she wasn’t allowed to touch anyone. It was very risky for her to not only come to the place where Jesus was but it was technically illegal for her to touch him at all. And yet, that is exactly what she did.
What strikes me is that she knew that without a shadow of a doubt that she would be healed if she did this. What faith she showed! She is a great example for us today, reminding us that faith as big as a mustard seed can move mountains. Her 12-year long illness vanished because of her faith.
The USCCB video reflection centers on the hopelessness of her situation, and how faith did what money and doctors could not. It reminds us to bring that kind of faith into our hopelessness – relationships that are broken, jobs that were lost, and projects that are just getting started.
But the homily at St. Gabriel went one step further. Father told the well-known story about the old woman in the flood. Paraphrased, it goes like this:
The river had started to flood and everyone was told to get to higher ground, but a woman decided that she would stay behind because “God would save her.” She went outside and sat on the porch waiting for God and a row boat came up. The gentleman inside said, “get into the boat so we can get to higher ground.” The lady thanked the nice man but said that she was waiting for God to save her. The boat left.
The water rose and she was now in the second floor of her home. This time a motor boat came by and said, “get into the boat and I’ll get you to higher ground.” Again, the lady thanked the nice man in the boat but reassured him that she would be fine and was waiting for God to save her. The man just shook his head and left.
Now the water had risen so much that she was on the roof of her home. A Coast Guard helicopter came to her rescue, letting down a latter for her to climb. She shouted up to the pilot that she was waiting for God to save her and would not be using the latter. Soon after, the flood waters engulfed her home and she drowns.
When she arrives at the pearly gates, she tells St. Peter that she wants to file a complaint. She tells St. Peter that she was certain that God would save her and yet she lost her life anyway. St. Peter laughs and says, “God sent you two boats and a helicopter!”
The homily goes on to say that faith alone can’t save us. We must take the action which our faith is leading us toward. We must step on the boat. We must touch Jesus’ robe. God is here, waiting to help us, but we must take the step toward that help.
The lesson in today’s Gospel is two-fold. First, have faith. Believe that the prayer you say will be answered. Know deep in your heart that if you only touch a thread of Jesus’ robe that you will be healed. Then look for boat He sends you and step inside.
Join the conversation: Have you ever had faith like the woman in today's Gospel? When have you taken action based on faith?
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Like this article? You might also like: An active year for miracles, Five steps for a marathon marriage and Living like St. John the Baptizer.
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