FAITH IN THE HEALING POWER OF GOD

June 28, 2015
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) 
Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24/Psalm 30/2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15/Mark 5:21-43 (or: 5:21-24, 35b-43) 

Today's Sunday Gospel gives emphasis on faith as an instrument in the miracles of Jesus. We witness two kinds of miracles of Jesus in our Gospel for this Sunday - a healing miracle and raising the dead back to life. In the longer version of our Sunday Gospel, Jesus heals a woman who has been bleeding for twelve long years and raises Jairus' daughter back to life. Faith is the key for the Lord to assist us in our needs. 

In the longer version of our Sunday Gospel, Jesus heals a woman bleeding for twelve full years. She has been to numerous physicians, but she was never cured. Not a single doctor could cure the woman of her illness. The bleeding she had could not stop for twelve full years and not a single physician could not stop the hemorrhage. 

The woman afflicted with hemorrhage then hears news about Jesus of Nazareth going into the area. She probably heard a lot about the Lord Jesus as a miracle worker. She heard that Jesus cured many people of their illnesses and afflictions. The problem is, there is a huge crowd following Jesus on the way to the house of Jairus. When she was following Jesus, the woman believed that she will be cured of her illness. With full faith that her bleeding will stop, she touched Jesus' garment,

Jesus knew that He lost power due to someone touching Him. He was being pressed by the crowd, and yet He knows that one person touched Him, causing Him to lose power. Hence, the question of Jesus, "Who touched Me?" Jesus knows that someone touched Him. Jesus knows that He lost power due to someone touching Him. The woman openly admits that she was the one who touched Him, and by touching His clothing, she was cured of her affliction.

Upon hearing the woman's testimony, Jesus assures her that it is her faith that has healed her. If the woman did not have faith in the healing power of the Lord, she wouldn't be cured of her illness. 

Now, on their way to Jairus' house, Jairus received news that his daughter has died. The messengers told Jairus not to bother the Lord. But, Jesus reassures him, telling Jairus to have faith and his daughter will be healed. When they went to the house of Jairus, Jesus raises the dead daughter of Jairus back to life. Christ commands the girl to get up. Upon the Lord's command, the girl came back to life.

Faith in the power of God is the key to God listening and helping us in our needs. When we have faith in the Lord, He will not ignore or reject our calls or needs. Rather, the Lord will respond to us by helping and granting our needs. 

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST: TRUE AND REAL

June 7, 2015 
Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) (B) 
Exodus 24:3-8/Psalm 116/Hebrews 9:11-15/Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

Our Gospel for this Corpus Christi Sunday, the Solemnity of the Precious Body and Blood of Christ, is the Last Supper narrative taken from the 14th chapter of the Gospel of St. Mark. In the Last Supper, Jesus institutes the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. As Catholics, we believe that Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. The sacramental bread and wine is truly the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Christ is truly present during the Mass in the form of bread and wine. 

There are different beliefs about the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. There are Protestants that believe that the presence of Jesus is just symbolism. Others say that Jesus is spiritually present in the Eucharist. But, for us Catholics, we believe that Jesus is truly and literally present in the Eucharist. We believe that Jesus is truly present in the Sacramental Bread and Wine. 

When Jesus instituted the Eucharist in the Last Supper, Jesus said, "This is My Body...This is My Blood." He did not say that the bread and wine are representations or symbols of His Body and Blood. Rather, Jesus said these words, "This is My Body...This is My Blood." Jesus Himself confirms His true, literal and real presence in the Eucharist when He instituted the Eucharist. 

In the Eucharist, Jesus satisfies our deepest hunger and thirst. We experience hunger and thirst all the time, but there are also hungers and thirsts that food cannot satisfy. Jesus knows our deepest hungers and thirsts. This is why He gives His Body and Blood as food for our soul. The Body and Blood of Christ is our spiritual food. 

Masses are celebrated not only on Sundays; Masses are celebrated daily. Whenever we go to Mass, Jesus is with us. Although He goes everywhere with us, the mysterious miracles occurs during the Mass. During the transubstantiation, the Sacramental Bread and Wine becomes the Body and Blood of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ becomes present and is with us during the Eucharist. He is present in order to satisfy our hunger and thirst that cannot be satisfied by physical food. 

As we celebrate Mass every Sunday or everyday, let us adore the Lord in the Eucharist. He is truly present in the Eucharist. The Lord Jesus Christ said that the Eucharistic elements (Sacramental Bread and Wine) are His Body and Blood. Who are we to doubt the presence of Jesus when He said that it He is truly present in the Bread and Wine?