“While Jesus was speaking, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.
And behold, a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 7th July 2025 – MATTHEW 9:18-26.
So, today’s teaching is about faith in action.
The man who approached Christ about the death of his daughter was propelled by grief and faith.
And, we all can see how his faith paid up.
Now, the most tremendous display of faith is the woman with a haemorrhage.
She didn’t even consider the privilege of getting to speak to Jesus Christ face-to-face.
She convinced herself that, if she could only wade through the crowd and get to touch just the fringe of his garment, she was certain that she would receive her healing.
Dear friend, we all can see how it played out.
What Christ Jesus said to her that fateful day is quite remarkable.
“Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” – MATTHEW 9:22.
Your faith made you well. It was putting her faith in action that healed her.
There’s something else quite worthy of note.
The little girl that Jesus Christ brought back to life was 12 years old.
The woman who received her healing, until that fateful day, she has been haemorrhaging also for 12 years.
Now, while the elderly woman had to suffer and wade through a crowd before getting to only touch the helm of Jesus’ garment at the back, Christ went as far as going to the little girl’s bedside.
However, not before her father who is described in today’s teaching as a ruler have to come and publicly kneel before Jesus Christ. – If only we know the implication of his action. Well, that will have to be for another day.
These two scenarios possibly signifies the old and the new order.
While the old have to suffer and beg, Jesus Christ comes up to the bedside of the new.
Dear friend, are we not a privileged generation?
Like that ruler’s daughter, Jesus Christ is everly right beside us.
All we need do is have faith of beckoning on him and we, too, will receive his miraculous touch.
However, this privilege that is commonly available to us now, shall stand against us as the yardstick for our judgement if we fail to use it now that we still have the privilege.
My dear friend, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
Have a fantastic day and fulfilled week.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria.
7th July 2025.