Fickle Faith
Do you believe that if you believe hard enough, it can happen?
While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue 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 got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, "Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district. - Matt. 9:18-26
Today's Gospel reading teaches us to believe wholeheartedly.
The leader of the synagogue and the suffering woman believed that all they needed to do was make their way to Jesus and miracles would happen.
You could argue that they were desperate. There was no place they could go to get help. Every avenue had been exhausted.
Do we need to wait until we are desperate for our faith to kick in?
These stories suggest that we need to be actively engaged in the battle for faith, against doubt.
For the leader of the synagogue, the battle was already lost. His daughter was dead. And still he believed there was a chance to bring her back.
How amazing is that?
None of the treatments of the day for the woman's illness had helped her, but she believed a touch of his cloak was all she needed.
Don't these stories share a message? Don't they tell us not to give up?
We cannot let our faith slip when the going gets rougher.
We need to double down and dig in.
Faith needs to grow in the dark to lead us to the light.
When the going gets tough, we are told, we need to get going. For me, that means to increase my faith.
More to come...