Faith verses Fear
In today’s Gospel we have what is often called a “Markan sandwich”. One story is sandwiched between the beginning and end of another. Both are stories of women. One story is contained within another. Both are stories about women who are ‘dead’ in their own way. It is interesting to note that all the synoptic gospels have these two stories put together and narrate them in remarkably similar words (Mt 9:18-25; Mk 5:22-43; Lk 8:41-56). The two women represent two different age groups: the younger one has died before time, at the onset of adolescence, and the cause of her death is unknown; the older woman is socially dead. Jesus raises both to life – new life. These miracles were worked by Jesus as rewards for the trusting Faith of a synagogue ruler and of a woman with a hemorrhage. The stories have several common features. One woman is 12 years old, and the other has suffered for 12 years. Both are called “daughter,” and both need physical healing. The girl’s father is encouraged to have Faith, and the older woman is praised for her Faith. The two stories illustrate Jesus’ power over both chronic illness and death. In each healing, Jesus shows God’s marvelous generosity by giving the recipients life and salvation in addition to physical healing. Both main characters showed some fear and then acted in faith. The Miriam Webster’s first definition of fear is an unpleasant and often strong emotion caused by the anticipation of danger. Though there are other forms of fear, such as respect for authority or the loss of honor, we shall for a while dwell on the most common emotion of fear that tend to paralyze life. Fear destroys our capacity for faith. When we have faith, we know that no matter what the outcome of a situation may be in this world, there is infinitely more to life than what our eyes see. There will be a better outcome than we could ever imagine. If we have faith, we know that if a situation does not work out, we will still be a better person for having been in that situation. There is an adage that is true: it is better to love and lose than never to love. Most people choose their vocational life of marriage, religious life or priesthood because they have faith that God is leading them in a direction which will only turn out positive in the long run no matter what the immediate result is. St John of the Cross wrote something that every one of us must have the courage to live in our lives. St John of the Cross wrote, “I went without discerning to that for which my heart was yearning.” We must have faith in God to guide us and not be slaves to fear. Nothing good ever flows from fear. Fear destroys faith. Fear is an instrument of the devil tempting us to give up on God and His Goodness. Fear tells us to give in to a world that has rejected the Living God. We can easily become prey of the one who wants to use our fear against us. The stories of the Gospel of today speaks to us of the impact of acting in faith rather than fear. Graces beyond human powers were granted to the Synagogue official and the woman with hemorrhage. We have great assurance from the Lord, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”.