HOPING EVEN AGAINST HOPE
⏰Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time 1 (31 Jan 2017)
????Heb 12:1-4; Ps 22:26b-27, 28 and 30, 31-32 (R.v.27b); Mark 5:21-43
HOPING EVEN AGAINST HOPE
It is once again my feast day, the memorial of St JohnBosco. I request your prayers in a special way especially for an increase in faith. I need to possess that kind of faith that moves mountain (cf. Matt 17:20).
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. Jesus himself invites you to come to him and take your rest (Matt 11:28).
The life of St. JohnBosco was filled with such hopeless conditions. There were occasions that even the Church officials joined forces with the State to fight his ministry among the youths. At other times, the youth themselves constituted his headache but he kept on without losing faith in God.
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. It is well with you.
