FAINTHEARTED…

Hebrews 12:1-4 

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

Mark 5:21-43 

21 And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him; and he was beside the sea.22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet,23 and besought him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

25 And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years,26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.27 She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.”29 And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, “Who touched my garments?”31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘ Who touched me?”32 And he looked around to see who had done it.33 But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”36 But ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”
37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.38 When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly.
39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a tumult and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.”
40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi”; which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”42 And immediately the girl got up and walked (she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

MEDITATION 

THE FIRST READING: The author call upon the people to follow the example of Christ who is able to perfect our faith, because He is indeed the perfect prototypical example of one who overcame; pain, humiliation and hostility. Fully aware that fear and sin is at the root of our daily struggles, we are encouraged to persevere and allow Christ to systimatically chip away our sin, a stumbling block that prevent us from being healed.

St MARK weaved together the stories of a synagogue official Jairus whose daughter was at the point of death and a woman who had a blood flow for several years. Jairus did not care less about what the crowd thought of him when he publicly fell at the feet of Christ begging Him to intervene and heal his daughter. On the other hand the woman stealthily touched Christs garment, perhaps because she did not wish to bother Him or she was ashamed to publicize her hemodinamic condition. 

Christ has made it possible for us to partake in the liturgy of the Holy Eucharist, where we are able to publicly unite and lay down our venial sins in the gifts we offer, to receive healing and forgiveness (Mt 26:28) in the sacrament of mercy. 2Cor 4:1 Those of us whose conscience has been numbed because of our hedonistic lifestyle to the extent that we could not care less about; objective truth, beauty, honesty, purity and goodness, are called to give Christ another try. Approach the confessional where we are able to privately touch the garment of Christ –womit our past ills, afflictions and waywardness–to receive complete deliverance and healing. This is not the time to be fainthearted or consider what others have to say. Be strong, because mercy and forgiveness await all of us who seek deliverance from sin and evil!

LET US PRAY:Psalms 22:26-28,30-3126 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live for ever!27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.28 For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.30 Posterity shall serve him; men shall tell of the Lord to the coming generation,31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, that he has wrought.