Reflection for Monday, 14th week of Ordinary Time 

By

 

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest, Bidar

Today's WORD of GOD 

Matthew  9: 22-26 

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 

When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region. 

Today's Reflection 

The Touch of the LORD is Healing & Transformative. Once Touched by the LORD, there is Health & New Life.

Today’s Readings Draw Our Attention to the “Power of Touch”. Touch is a Sign of Intimacy. It is a Sign of Relationship. It is a Sign of Freedom. 

It is an Expression of Assurance, Comfort, & Encouragement. It is a Channel of Tenderness. 

The Tender Touch of a Mother can Put a Crying Child into a Serene Sleep.

Perhaps, in Our World of Today, This is what is Missing. We Miss the Tender & Gentle Hands that are Stretched Forth to Others to Wipe Away the Tears, to Pat on the Back, to Support on the Shoulders, to Assure on the Bosom. 

We Miss that Touch of a heart that is Touched & Wants to Touch the Troubled Life of the Other.

In such a Context, Today GOD is Extending Us HIS touch & Showing Us yet Again the Power of HIS Touch. 

In the 1st Reading, It is a Touch of GOD that Restores the Lost Beautiful Relationship with HIS People. 

It is a Touch that Re-Embraces Them in Intimacy & Re-Establishes Fidelity. How Tenderly GOD Speaks: “I will Betroth U to ME Forever. 

I will Betroth U to ME in Righteousness & in Justice, in Steadfast Love & Mercy. I will Betroth U to ME in Faithfulness”.

In the Gospel, We have 2 Other Touching Episodes of Touch. 

The Woman with a Hemorrhage from 12 Years, Touches just the Edge of the LORD'S Cloak & She Gets Instantly Healed. 

The Official’s Dead Daughter is just Touched by the LORD'S Hand & Instantly Comes Back to Life. This is the Power of the LORD'S Touch.

The LORD'S Touch is Always Available. HE Always Wants to Touch Our Lives & Change Them. 

However, what is Needed on Our Part is the Humble & Persevering Faith of the Ruler & the Sick Woman in the Gospel. 

Even in Their Desperate & Hopeless Situations, They could Trust in the LORD'S Benevolence & Power. Accordingly, Their Faith was Rewarded.

Often in Our World, We are Carried Away by so Many Superficial Interests & Pleasures. 

Our Capacity for Inner Susceptibility & Touch is Diminishing. It is High Time that We Revive This Tenderness of Touch.

Good Morning

Have an awesome day and a fruitful week ahead.