Message of Abbot Paul - Monday 4th July
Abbot Paul • July 3, 2022
Message from Fr Paul for Monday, 4th July 2022
First of all, today, an apology, for in yesterday’s message I wrote that the Gospel passage for Sunday came from Matthew. In fact, as you all know, it came from Luke. I’m so used to writing about Matthew at the moment that I wrote without thinking it was a Sunday. It was good to have our Ukrainian friends back for the Divine Liturgy yesterday afternoon and to see the congregation grow and welcome newcomers. We continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and an end to the war.
Today’s Gospel passage really does come from Matthew, (Mt 9: 18-26), an interesting account of two miracles in one story, the raising from the dead of an official’s daughter and the healing of a woman who had been suffering from a haemorrhage for twelve years. Jesus always has time for those in need. He says yes where others might say no. This is how Matthew tells the story:
“While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.’ Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I shall be well again.’ Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, ‘Courage, my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.’ And from that moment the woman was well again.
When Jesus reached the official’s house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion he said, ‘Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ And they laughed at him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took the little girl by the hand; and she stood up. And the news spread all round the countryside.”
Jesus does not object to the audacity of the official who comes up and interrupts him while he is speaking, for he makes a deep bow of respect and recognition that Jesus is more important than himself. The request is urgent; his daughter is dead; only Jesus can raise her to life. Jesus rises immediately to go with the man and takes his disciples with him. Just at that moment, the poor woman comes up behind him and touches the hem of his garment, convinced that even this minimal contact with Jesus will heal her, reflecting the faith of the official who believes that Jesus can raise his daughter from death to life. Jesus is kindness itself with the lady now healed of her unpleasant ailment: he calls her his daughter and encourages her to start a new life. Just as her faith has healed her, so now the faith of the official will be instrumental in bringing back his daughter to life. Arriving at the official’s house, the scene resembles so many deaths I witnessed in rural Peru. When Jesus says the little girl is just sleeping, albeit the sleep of death, he is laughed at, and yet he knows, and the official believes, that he has God’s power to raise the girl from the dead and give her new life. This act of healing is a prophecy of his own resurrection.
Lord, strengthen our faith that we too may rise to new life in you. Amen.
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