“Your faith has saved you.” – Matthew 9:22

       I once went to the grocery to buy a couple of things for the kitchen. Since I knew I only wanted a few items, I didn’t bother getting a basket. I just grabbed stuff and carried them by hand.

       Soon, my hands were full. Then I saw some stuff that wasn’t on my shopping list but I felt I needed. So I decided to get a basket.

       Later on, the basket was full, too. So I got a shopping cart and placed the basket inside. I went home with much more than I had planned to buy.

       I believe God has no problem blessing us. The question is, how much are we willing to receive? The answer lies in how much faith we have. Sometimes we pray for things but we don’t believe enough that we will receive them. How can God place big blessings in small containers?

       If we’re willing to settle for small blessings, that’s all we’ll get. But if we want big blessings, we need shopping cart-sized faith. George Tolentino Gabriel (george.g@svrtv.com)

Reflection: What are you praying for? Does your faith match the size of your request?

St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr, pray for us.

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Maria Goretti, a young girl who chose death over the violation of her virginity. As she fought off her attacker, she was mortally wounded and killed. Her example teaches us that there are things worth dying for. Life is about standing for something worthwhile – standing up for the good and not being afraid even if it means dying for the values of the Gospel.

10 Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran. 11 When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set, he stopped there for the night. Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep at that spot. 12 Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s messengers were going up and down on it. 13 And there was the Lord standing beside him and saying: “I, the Lord, am the God of your forefather Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you are lying I will give to you and your descendants. 14 These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth, and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south. In you and your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing. 15 Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.” 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed, “Truly, the Lord is in this spot, although I did not know it!” 17 In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven!” 18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head, set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it. 19 He called that site Bethel, whereas the former name of the town had been Luz. 20 Jacob then made this vow: “If God remains with me, to protect me on this journey I am making and to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and I come back safe to my father’s house, the Lord shall be my God. 22 This stone that I have set up as a memorial stone shall be God’s abode.”

R: In you, my God, I place my trust.

1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (R) 3 For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler, from the destroying pestilence. 4 With his pinions he will cover you, and under his wings you shall take refuge. (R) 14 Because he clings to me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress. (R)

Miracles demonstrate the power Jesus exercises in His ministry. Miracles are meant to challenge our faith and call us into a deeper faith and trust in God. Jesus performs extraordinary miracles because He trusts God completely and believes that God listens to His prayers. Like Jesus, let us put our trust in the promises of God no matter how difficult things might be. God is always in control.

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

18 While 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.” 19 Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” 22 Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. 23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. 25 When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. 26 And news of this spread throughout all that land.

think: Miracles are meant to challenge our faith and call us into a deeper faith and trust in God.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Chronicles 19-20

WITH GOD, LIFE GOES ON

Jesus restored two lives in today’s Gospel. One was that of a 12-year-old child; the other that of a woman who had bleeding for 12 years, thus making those years unproductive and miserable, and rendering her a living dead. With the child, Jesus healed with His touch. With the woman, Jesus healed by being touched. Both miracles attest to Jesus as the Author of life. Both miracles happened through the faith response of the bleeding woman and the desperate father of the child.

       This was what Jesus meant when He defended Himself and His disciples for not fasting. With Him in our midst, mourning has no place. Since He, the Bridegroom, was with them, fasting was not practiced. His presence as the Messiah was a time of reckoning, healing, conversion and salvation. He presented it best when He showed His authority over life through those two miracles.

       This Gospel message reminds us of life’s non-negotiables and absolutes. On whom or what does our life depend on? Do we base our lives on riches, power or fame? Do we believe only on what the world can offer? Where is God in your life? When and where does the spiritual consideration come in? Is life only for this world and in this lifetime?

       Jesus gives an answer. He is, in fact, the answer. Nobody knows life better than Him. He was there in Creation. He is here to sustain our life with His graces and guidance. And He will be there to welcome us after our life on earth. He is God for all seasons — the Alpha and the Omega.

       Death is a reality. It is part of living. Time will come when we will all face death. But we believe it is not the end of life. Life is too precious to end in destruction. Life continues in the next life. During those moments, we muster our faith and express our need and assurance of life from God. And He shall give it. Our God is the God of the living. He reigns not among the dead but among the living. God rules. Fr. Benny Tuazon

REFLECTION QUESTION: Where is your life based on — in material riches or in your relationship with God and with the people around you?

Dear God, continue to reign in my life. May I never lose sight of You. May I never be blinded by the things of this world.