HOPING EVEN AGAINST HOPE
⏰Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time 1 (05 February 2019 – Memorial of St. Agatha)
📖Heb 12:1-4; Ps 22:26b-27, 28 and 30, 31-32 (R.v.27b); Mark 5:21-43
🎤HOPING EVEN AGAINST HOPE
Have you ever seen yourself in a condition that made you declare that quitting is the only option? This quitting could even be quitting life itself. Do you believe that Jesus can help you even in that hopeless situation? Yes, he can! You only need to believe in him.
The two cases that were reported in Mark 5:21-43 can be seen as difficult and hopeless cases. The synagogue official had to push aside his pride and the hatred of his kind towards Jesus while the woman must contend with the shame of coming to the public when everyone must have known her as having an incurable disease.
Apart from those difficulties, their cases appeared hopeless. The official’s daughter was at the point of death; in fact she died before Jesus could reach her (Mark 5:23, 35). For the woman, not only has she been ill for a long time, she had spent all that she had in the hands of many doctors without getting any better, rather he got worse (cf. Mark 5:26).
However, they believed and hoped that their solution lies in Jesus, and they got it. What and who do you hope on?
Do not allow life challenges to push you into sin. Heb 12:1-4 encourages us to persevere in our faith and righteousness, looking up to Jesus as our model. St. Agatha, whose memorial we celebrate today looked up to him even to the point of laying down her life for her faith. She resisted the advances of a Roman Senator, Quintianus, who also had her placed in a house for prostitutes so that she could be corrupted, but she withstood all that. She was then condemned and had her two breasts cut off but she never gave up. She trusted that Jesus, her beloved cannot fail her. Today, she is enjoying his company in heaven. Jesus himself invites you to come to him and take your rest (Matt 11:28).
May your faith and hope in Christ yield for you breakthrough, freedom and success through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Have a blessed day ahead. Peace be with you.
