Faith heals and cures

Doctors often talk about the need for faith and trust of the patient towards the doctor. Practice says that wounds heal sooner in such a case, and recovery is significantly shortened. However, we also know of issues that cannot be explained other than by stating that it cannot be explained, that science cannot prove it, that the disease was and is not. The slide confirmed that, and suddenly, it’s not there. Often an incurable illness is cured… We can read about this in Lourdes, Beacon of the Atomic Age. We, believers, speak of the miraculous, doctors say of incomprehensible cures, and Jesus in this Gospel admonishes, “Do not be afraid, just believe!” (Mk 5:36).

We are made to live, not to die. Two stories from this Gospel bear witness to this. The Lord Jesus consistently leads people to himself. Recently, he calmed a storm at sea with a single word before the eyes of the apostles, and now he does the same when he heals a sick woman and raises the dead girl of the synagogue leader. In all cases, we see that Jesus shows his power not only in word but also indeed, that he is Lord of life and death. This is not made any easier by the doubt that the sick woman and the synagogue ruler acted in a spirit of faith that can be said to move mountains but would not have been sufficient if the Lord Jesus had not accepted it and responded to it with His power. Faith received and confirmed by the Lord Jesus works miracles.

The faith of the sick woman and the synagogue ruler’s daughter should encourage us. We also see the helplessness of the man who did all in his power and did not achieve the desired result. He was left with God and His intervention. All that is needed is to believe and trust Jesus. To live daily in practice the truth that the Book of Wisdom speaks of, “For God created man for incorruptibility, he made him in the image of his likeness; but by the envy of the devil death has come into the world: he will be tried by those who are his prey.” (Wis. 2:23-24).

Let us trust God! Jesus is more powerful than death, for that is what He came into the world to do, to give us God-given life. This was fulfilled by both the woman and the man of the Gospel. To explain to the woman, Jesus said that her healing had much more profound meaning and the cause of that healing went to the bottom of God’s mercy. For it rests on man’s boundless trust in God. Jesus himself confirmed this when he said to the woman, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be healed of your sickness” (Mk 5:34). The Lord Jesus rarely gave people such a testimony.

As we reflect on this woman’s healing, we realize that it was a boon for the woman and our encouragement and edification because it touches each one. Through these events, we gain the assurance that we can ask Jesus for anything if we ask with confidence and with great surrender to his will.

We often wonder why God does not hear us…? Let us ask ourselves: What faith fills us? With what religion do we approach the matter at hand? What else is lacking in our confidence? Is there trust persistent prayer? Are we genuinely convinced that only Jesus and anyone else can help us? Let us nurture in ourselves, spread around us such a witness of faith, and eventually, we will be convinced of the love of Jesus.

The second miracle of this Gospel concerns the same virtue, although it shows it from a different side. The synagogue ruler’s closest friends undermine his faith. They say: “Your daughter is dead; why do you still kidnap the teacher?” (Mk 5:35). Who knows how the matter would have ended had Jesus not been there to tell him with all authority: “Do not be afraid, just believe!” (Mk 5:36).

Let us consider that in such situations, faith can be destroyed thanks very quickly to others through unwise or unwise actions or words. Jesus at that moment seemed to be saying to Jairus: She died for them, but not for you! I will prove to you that she did not die but is asleep. Believe me! Jesus’ real action is directed toward encouraging Jairus to believe rather than performing the miracle of raising the dead. We see that faith is more important to Jesus than the dead man.

Let us realize that there will be no resurrection if we do not have faith. If faith prevails, life will triumph over death, and that is certain! So it was with Jairus. His faith prevailed.

Mark says: Jesus took the girl by the hand and said: “Talitha Kum!”, which means, “Girl, I say to you, get up!” (Mk 5:41). In these words is the power and might of the Lord Jesus. Jesus does not perform miracles for spectacle or external popularity to notice outward signs. Still, we may have a foothold to the substance of the matter in external things. That is that we may believe that Jesus has brought victory over death into the world. He – Jesus got to a sad, desperate, or hopeless humanity himself as the greatest gift: the gift of life. He and no one else!

How beautiful it is to realize that we have such a great Teacher. And not only that but whoever lives in him has such a significant meaning in life. Life without end.