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Do Not Be Afraid Just Have Faith

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Do Not Be Afraid Just Have Faith

Hebrews 12:1-4
Mark 5:21-43

TOUCHING LIVES

Today we celebrate a man who was said to have changed the world -St. John Bosco. He founded the Salesians the second-largest religious order in the world with over 140,000 priests across 130 countries in the world. He dedicate his life to prayer and charity towards youths who were roaming the streets looking for livelihood to make them know Christ. John Bosco devoted himself to the care of the young, first of all by means of plays and tricks they got attracted then evening classes, to which hundreds came, and then by setting up a boarding house for apprentices, and then workshops for their training and education. Despite many difficulties, caused both by the anti-clerical civil authorities and by the opposition of some senior people within the Church, his enterprise grew, and by 1868 over 800 boys and young men were under his care. To ensure the continuation of his work, he founded a congregation, which he named after St Francis de Sales (a saint for whom he had great admiration), and today the Salesians continue their work all over the world.

TWO STORIES IN ONE PASSAGE

We have a lot of interesting details in today’s gospel passage. Two stories are put together with several possibilities in a pericope. A desperate father runs up to Jesus and begs that Jesus should go with him to heal his gravely ill daughter.  Jesus had to leave the crowd and yet a large crowd followed him immediately.  On the way, a woman equally was desperate for healing from a perennial illness. She wants to be saved and she believes so deeply that just “touching his cloak” heals her completely Jairus, the father of the sick little girl, waits patiently while Jesus spends time with the woman on the way.  He did not say “Come on Jesus!  Hurry leave this woman! She’s an outcast!  Leave her there… my daughter is more important.”  No… instead he waited – and sadly, word came that his little girl died. And Jesus, hearing that the little girl had died, did not say “Sorry my bad accept it condolence let me go back, or perhaps “Let me stop by later and we will chat.”  No… instead he said “Be not afraid, just have faith” and goes to that which everyone believes is hopeless and raised her up to new life.

ETERNAL LIFE IS IN JESUS

Later in Jesus’ life he would also wait to go to his friend, Lazarus.  When he got there, Lazarus was dead and buried.  His family had been mourning and knew in their hearts it was beyond hope.Martha said to Jesus, “Surely, he would not have died if you had been here, Lord.” Jesus proves God’s miracles can know no limits of time or circumstance.,”Lazarus, come out.”
How many times have we faced something which seemed hopeless?  How many times have we been impatient with God, or failed to understand his plan and timing?  I know I sure have… and a lot.  And yet, through everything we do and in the midst of every trial, there He is, walking with us on the road toward all that needs raising up.

JUST HAVE FAITH

So, reach out, touch his cloak.  Cry out loudly.  Whatever it takes, whatever you need to do, do it.  God is there, waiting.  He will drop what he is doing and will walk with you, because there is enough of Him to go around for us all
And like the first reading from the letter to the Hebrews tells us, we have a lot of witnesses of faith that we can imitate. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Persevere in running this race. Continue to be men and women of great faith who put that faith into action through charity in whatever way God wants to make use of us this day and the rest of our days. It may not be a great thing like starting a conversation like St. John Bosco probably in little ways. Charity must begin in our homes. Let us be faithful in our duties and works of charity for the Lord is faithful in all his ways and loving in all his deeds.

Fr Joseph Osho

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