Gospel Thoughts
14th Week – Monday
Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26
The Faith and Courage of the Synagogue official”
1) The Gospel presents the real situation of the Synagogue official
-When he had reached the place where Jesus was His daughter has already dead
-as soon as he starts speaking he says “My daughter has just dead”
-This also means that when he started from his house his daughter was about to die. She was at the last stage of her life.
-The synagogue official was very sure that she will die within few minutes.
2) Synagogue official had two options
A) To remain with his dying daughter, to accompany her, inorder to console her
B) To leave his dying daughter and to approach Jesus
Being with dying Daughter Would mean
-The difficulty of leaving the dying daughter
-The challenge of missing those last moments of the beloved only daughter's earthly life by the synagogue official
-That he valued the life of her daughter is more than anything else
-That there is no other solution for the dying daughter
- To be with the dying daughter and give up all other efforts to save her life
SECOND OPTION : LEAVE THE DYING DAUGHTER AND TO MEET JESUS
THIS WOULD MEAN
- The courage of the synagogue official
-That he has not given up the hope of the life of his daughter
-Tremendous faith of the official on Jesus
-Belief that, with Jesus everything will be normal
-The official believed that Jesus has the ultimate authority on human life
The OFFICIAL OF THE SYNAGOGUE ALSO HAD THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS
- To send some one else to Jesus instead of going by himself
- He would have waited till the last moment of the life of his daughter. Once she is dead, he would have gone and met Jesus
To give up his hope on the life of his daughter and to face the situation as it comes
- He would have also asked His friends or his servants to look for a doctor who can treat his daughter
But ultimately He chose the Divine Healer, Jesus to treat his only beloved daughter and he was completely right in doing so
3) The Attitude of the synagogue official
"official came forward,
knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died"
-The gesture of kneeling down shows his complete surrender
-His humility before Jesus
-Accepting Jesus as Lord and Master
-A genuine prayer which is prayed in kneeling position, always has a tremendous power
-After kneeling down he stright away says what he wants to say. He does not say, will it be possible for you to save my child. So
His straight answer shows the following
His complete trust in Jesus
His confidence in Jesus
His understanding of Jesus power and authority
-Awareness that Jesus has the power to raise the dead to life
The ASPECT OF DEATH
We also need to note the aspect of Death
When he had reached, his daughter was already dead
Even then he did not lose hope
He is making a request to Jesus after the death of his beloved daughter
Which also shows that Jesus has the power to raise even the dead man to life
Such was his trust, confidence and hope in the person of Jesus
4) The official of the synagogue is a real model and Hero for us
The present day situation of COVID19 is similar to that of the official of the synagogue
Like synagogue official we need to say
Due to COVID19 many of my brothers and sisters are dead
Many of my family members are affected with COVID19 and we are frightened
Due to COVID19
Our hope is dead
Our courage is dead
Our relationship is dead
Our immunity power is dead
Our health is dead
Our financial position is dead
Our celebrations are dead
Our free movements are dead
Our friendly talk is dead
Our shaking of hands is dead
Our risk taking factor to take care for the patients is weakened
Our transport is dead
And finally we are dying
5) The response of the Lord is very much soothing
Jesus rose and followed him
Jesus is specially following
Jesus is following us to protect and save us
To lay his hands on us to give a divine blessing to us
To give us new life from this deadly virus
So let's have the faith and trust of the synagogue official in the pandemic situation, which really scares us
God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones
Fr Maxim DSouza
Jeppu Seminary
Mangalore
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