This Sunday’s Gospel illustrates two remarkable testimonies of faith in the power of Jesus (Mk 5:21-43). The first is about an elderly woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for 12 years. It must have been a long time of suffering and discomfort for her. However, according to divine wisdom and providence, her suffering was not in vain but served as a means to manifest her faith. As St. Paul explained to the Romans, we also glory in our sufferings because we realize that suffering develops perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. Such hope will not be doomed to disappointment because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us (Rom 5:3-5). For this elderly woman, who had interiorly believed in Jesus before she touched Him and was cured, Jesus confirmed her faith by saying, “My daughter, your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint.” Similarly, the father of the little 12 years old girl believed in Jesus’s power despite being told by those close to him not to believe any longer because his daughter had already died. To him, Jesus responded, “Do not be afraid; only have faith.”
To help us, God does not count on our worthiness or achievements, God counts on our childlike trust. These testimonies aim to empower us in our faith, hope, and love of God despite our secular living environment. By hearing about the miracles and seeing the good works that Jesus did, hopefully, our faith is awakened so that we realize there is nothing impossible for God. Even when our faith in God is as small as a mustard seed, God’s miracles can still be at work.
Fr. Tien Cao
