(Optional Memorial for Saint Elizabeth of Portugal)
Note: in the United States, this memorial is perpetually transferred to July 5th.
Independence Day [In Dioceses of the United States]
Alternate Texts may be taken from the Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, II. For Civil Needs: 13. For the Nation, nos. 882-886; or 14. For Peace and Justice, nos. 887-891.
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| “Woman Healed Touching Jesus” by Alexandre Bida 1874 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Hosea 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22
Commentary on Hos 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22
The Prophet Hosea, voicing God’s hope for the people of Israel as husband might speak to a wife who was unfaithful, exhorts the people to turn from idolatry (the worship of Baal). He tells them that if they will be faithful, God’s love and mercy will be theirs: it is eternal, and God is always faithful. In Hebrew tradition "espousing" would include the gifts for the bride (cf Genesis 24:53). It is thought by many scholars that the prophet went through a personal trial with an unfaithful spouse which colored his prophetic writings, using the analogy of Israel as the espoused people throughout this book.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (8a) The Lord is gracious and merciful.
Commentary on Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. These strophes (because it is in the acrostic form, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) although loosely assembled, praise God for his mercy and compassion and give thanks for his creation and redemption.
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Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26
Commentary on Mt 9:18-26
Jesus continues his journey in this passage from Matthew’s Gospel. Again he engages in healing those who have faith in him. First, in a situation similar to the incident with the centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-11; Luke 7:1-10), he is asked to help an official. As he is responding to that request, a woman with a hemorrhage approaches Jesus and reaches out to him. As she touches the tassel of his cloak, she experiences healing in that touch. In Mark and Luke the story is much more detailed. The Lord feels this touch and seeks out the woman (see Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48).
Jesus arrives at the official's home and heals his daughter. In Mark’s Gospel (Mark 5:23) she was at the point of death, here she had already “fallen asleep” meaning she had died. Again, Jesus seeing the faith of the requester, raises her from her death bed to new life.
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Reflection:
If we truly believe in the authority of Christ over death, death itself ceases to be a cause for fear. If we truly believe Christ can heal us, a touch of his cloak will accomplish that healing. How difficult it is to take that leap of faith. The Lord was wise indeed when he said “whoever does not accept the kingdom of God
How can we come to such faith? We know and understand that faith is a gift from God, and that through it flows all the grace and strength we need. We know that faith, like physical strength, can be grown through proper exercise and diet (exercise for faith is practice and diet is the word and sacraments). And herein lies the paradox. As we mature in our faith, we see all the depth and complexity of the truth Christ was pleased to reveal to us. We hear his command to love God and others. We can comprehend that this is done most completely by an innocent child (before they are taught by us not to trust or even speak to strangers). How insidious is the evil one, who forces us to take away that innocence for their protection.
Yet our own experiences of life force us to take a more mature view of the world and people around us. Our experiences of being hurt, having our trust violated, and being hated by others causes us to reject the innocent faith we need to embrace Christ’s teachings. Always it seems that even as we reach out to touch that tassel of Jesus’ cloak, we pull back, afraid of what will happen (or what will not).
Today we pray for faith, the innocent faith of a child, that through it we might experience the healing miracle of the woman with a hemorrhage, who through her faith was cured. May God grant us trust in his infinite love and compassion this day.
Pax
[2] The picture used today is “Woman Healed Touching Jesus” by Alexandre Bida 1874
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