|The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, Book III Chapter XXI: ”How We are to Rest in God above All Goods and Gifts” (first entry)

The words above are the only ones Kempis has Christ utter in this uplifting chapter. The disciple cannot stop praising the Lord and extolling all His wonders, finding in Him his only true repose. Jesus interrupts by saying that He hears the cry of the disciple and is ever ready to meet the one who is humble and contrite.

|Today’s Gospel reading: Mt 9:18-26

The headline contains the first two verses of today’s Gospel. Our Lord is approached by a man whose daughter has just died but who is filled with confidence that Jesus can bring her back to life. As He sets out per the man’s request, Jesus is touched by the hemorrhagic woman who is healed and who He then commends for her strong faith. Finally, Jesus gets to the man’s house, puts out the mourners, and raises the girl, causing His fame to spread.

|Reflection

Do you think that the meek, repentant, and faithful person will ever be abandoned by the Lord? Look to the Jewish religious official who came to Jesus filled with faith. I can imagine he got a lot of push back from relatives and friends: Why bother Jesus about a dead girl? (see Mk 5:35) But he would not be deterred. There was no question in his mind that Jesus could do it. What the love of a father and faith in God can do! If Jesus can raise the dead, what can He not do for us? Whether on our death bed, dead in sin, or suffering the little deaths that we encounter in our lives, let us turn with complete trust to the Lord who is “the resurrection and the life” (see Jn 11:25).

(For one of my favorite Catholic folk songs on this theme listen here.)