The gospel from Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time is taken from Matthew 9, 1826. When Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him and said, my daughter has just died, but come, lay your hand on her and she will live. Jesus rose and followed him. So did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for 12 years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his cloak. She said to herself, if only I can touch the cloak, I shall be cured.

Jesus turned around and saw her and said, courage, daughter, your faith has saved you. And from that hour, the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who was making a commotion, he said, go, go away. The girl is not dead, but sleeping. And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand and the little girl arose.

And news of this spread throughout all the land. It’s fascinating to me when you encounter someone and ask them if they believe in God. They often say, yes. And you say, well, can he raise people from the dead? Can he heal diseases? And they kind of get confused and, oh, not for me.

But seriously, we don’t understand what it means to believe in Jesus. It means we’re actually establishing a new kingdom where there is less and less pain and suffering and disease and death until we reach the final goal. The kingdom of God is here. But the mysterious thing is it’s here now. We’re experiencing it. But the key to experiencing anything that God can do for you is believing it can be done and will be done.

Take a few moments to reflect upon these truths, and then I will close with a prayer. Sam Foreign Father, the gift of faith is more than something that we just work on ourselves. It’s a gift that comes from your Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Give us the new eyes of faith. Help us to know how powerful God’s healing power is in everything we’re doing. Never let us lose hope.

And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.