Monday, July 08, 2013

Your faith has saved you

"She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”
Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured." (Matthew 9: 21 - 22)

In the Eucharist, we touch not just the cloak of Jesus, we touch Jesus substantially in His flesh, blood, soul and divinity.  This is the faith of the Church.  I believe it.  Why then are some not healed or transformed by this experience?  The answer is in Matthew 9: 22:  “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured." Faith!

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines Faith in #166 thus:
"166 Faith is a personal act - the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself. But faith is not an isolated act. No one can believe alone, just as no one can live alone. You have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others. Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith."  (CCC #166)
Our woman with the issue of blood heard about Jesus from someone whom she trusted.  She believed what she heard.  She then acted out her faith in seeking Jesus.  Her faith brought her healing.  Now that she is healed, her personal witness to what happened to her will spread faith in the name of Jesus.

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