Gospel Reflection for Tuesday, February 4, 2025

febrero 4, 2025

Dear brothers and sisters, peace and blessings to you.

Two miracles—one “big” compared to the other. A healing, which is already significant, and a return to life itself. In both cases, the importance of faith is emphasized: the faith of the woman suffering from hemorrhages and the faith of the father of the little girl. Their faith moved them to take action—to seek out the Lord, to push through the crowd, to reach the Master. One woman simply wanted to touch His cloak, while the other, a father, wanted to speak with Him and ask Him to come to his home.

These two miracles invite us to reflect on faith, hope, and the mercy of God. In these verses, Jesus performs two profound acts of compassion: the healing of Jarius’ daughter, a leader of the synagogue, and the restoration of a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years. Both stories intertwine, delivering a clear message about trust in divine power.

The Faith of Jairo: A Father’s Desperate Plea

Jairo, a man of social standing, approaches Jesus in complete desperation. His daughter is at the brink of death, and he sees no other option but to seek help from this Teacher who has worked wonders in Galilee. Jairo’s attitude is humble and open—he sets aside his pride and status and pleads for his daughter’s life. His faith in Jesus is the driving force behind her healing because he believes that Jesus can save her. Jesus responds with a simple yet powerful phrase:

“Do not fear, just have faith.”

This invitation from Jesus calls us to trust in Him, even when circumstances seem hopeless, even lifeless.

The Faith of the Woman: A Silent but Powerful Act

While Jesus is on His way to Jairo’s house, another moment unfolds: a woman suffering from chronic hemorrhages for twelve years approaches Him. Like Jairo, she is desperate. But her faith is so strong that she believes that simply touching His cloak will heal her.

Despite the crowd pressing in on Jesus, she manages to reach out, and the moment she touches Him, she knows she is healed.

Jesus, realizing what has happened, stops and asks:

“Who touched me?”

At first glance, this question seems directed at the crowd, but Jesus has a deeper purpose. He wants to bring the woman out of the shadows, to acknowledge her suffering, and to let her know that it was her faith that healed her.

“Your faith has saved you,” Jesus tells her, restoring not only her physical health but also her social and spiritual dignity.

Faith: Persistence and Trust

This passage reveals two essential aspects of faith:

1.Persistence – Jairo does not let his daughter’s death or negative news deter him from hoping in Jesus.

2.Trust – The woman does not let the crowd or her illness stop her from believing in Jesus’ power to heal her.

Both figures teach us that faith is not passive—it is an active and determined search for Jesus, a firm trust in His healing and restoring power.

The Compassion of God

This Gospel passage also highlights God’s infinite compassion. Jesus makes no distinctions between people—He responds to all who come to Him in faith.

His response to Jairo and the woman demonstrates that social status, suffering, or illness do not matterGod is always ready to heal, restore, and give life.

May this passage renew our faith, encourage us to approach Jesus with confidence, and remind us that in Him, we find true healing—both in body and soul.

Your brother in faith,

Alejandro Carbajo, C.M.F.