Monday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin, Martyr
Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26In today’s Gospel, two miracles are united by one common thread: faith in the person of Jesus. A synagogue official believes that Jesus can restore his dead daughter to life, while a woman suffering for twelve years quietly says to herself, “If I only touch the fringe of His cloak, I shall be healed.” Her simple gesture changes everything. She does not rely on her own strength but on the saving power of Christ. Jesus immediately recognizes her faith and says, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has saved you.” The same Lord then raises the little girl from death, revealing that no situation is beyond His power. The fringe of Christ’s cloak has no magical power in itself; it is the living presence of Jesus that heals and restores. The woman’s touch becomes the outward expression of an inward trust that opens her life to God’s grace. Every encounter with Christ has the power to change everything when it is met with faith. Today we are invited to draw close to Jesus with the same confidence, in prayer, in the Eucharist, in His Word, and in the sacraments. Even the smallest act of faith that reaches out to Christ can become the beginning of a completely new life. Let’s reflect: Do I reach out to Jesus with the trusting faith that even the smallest encounter with Him can heal my wounds, restore my hope, and transform my life?
Don Giorgio