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One Bread, One Body
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All Issues > Volume 35, Issue 2
<< Tuesday, February 5, 2019 >> St. Agatha
Hebrews 12:1-4
View Readings Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32 Mark 5:21-43
Similar Reflections
HANDLE WITH FAITH
“At this they began to ridicule Him. Then He put them all out. Jesus took the child’s father and mother and His own companions and entered the room where the child lay.” —Mark 5:40
The family and friends of Jairus who had gathered to mourn this young girl’s death thought nothing more could be done. Perhaps they had heard of other healings worked at the hands of this itinerant Preacher, but when Jesus told them she was not dead they ridiculed Him (Mk 5:39-40). They thought their situation was too much for Jesus to handle.
What situation are you facing that is “too much” for Jesus to handle? Can He not handle your boss or your co-workers? And what about your family? Perhaps you consider your finances or your love life beyond His scope? If you ridicule the possibility of Jesus working in any area of your life, you too may find yourself “put out” by Jesus (Mk 5:40). You will not enter the room to witness firsthand the amazing workings of the Master-Healer.
Indeed, even faith the size of a mustard seed will get you in the door (see Mt 17:20). We must act and “ask in faith, never doubting, for the doubter is like the surf tossed and driven by the wind” (Jas 1:6).
Place your impossible situations in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. Then He will not say to you, “How little faith you have!...Why did you falter?” (Mt 14:31) Instead, He will exclaim, “You have great faith! Your wish will come to pass” (Mt 15:28).
Prayer: Jesus, help us to keep our eyes fixed on You (Heb 12:2).
Promise: “By Your gift will I utter praise in the vast assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear Him.” —Ps 22:26
Praise: St. Agatha kept her faith though tortured and imprisoned. During her tortures, she was asked three times to deny Christ. She held fast to Jesus each time and received the crown of life (see Rv 2:10).
The chief cause of poverty in this country is single motherhood/absent fatherhood.
71% of poor families are not married.
Children of single parent homes are two times more likely to be arrested for juvenile crime,
two times more likely be treated for emotional and behavioral problems,
twice as likely to be suspended or expelled from school,
33% more likely to drop out of school,
three times more likely to end up in jail by age 30,
50% more likely to live in poverty as adults,
and twice as likely to have a child outside of marriage themselves
[Getting the Marriage Conversation Right, by William B. May].