Just have faith

The story is told about three elderly friends who were discussing what they would like people to say about them during their funeral. The first one said he would like to hear people say that he was a successful man. The second one said he would like to hear people say that he was a good man. The third one said: “I would like to hear people say, ‘Look! His hand moved! He is alive!!’”

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In today’s Gospel (Mk. 5,21,-43), we hear how Jesus raised a little girl from the dead. What a joy it must have been for Jairus and his family that his daughter came back to life! They thought she was forever gone, but she had come back to them. Don’t you wish that Jesus were alive today so that He would bring back to life a loved one who has died?

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Anyone of us who is sick, or have loved ones who are sick, don’t we all wish that Jesus were here with us physically so that He could heed our plea, the way he instantly healed the woman who had been afflicted with hemorrhage for 12 years? Don’t we all wish He would be here still and just help us with our problems, trials, issues and concerns? Don’t we all wish He were with us right now to help us heal our ailing relationships, heal our Philippines, and heal the world with peace? Well, He is not with us physically now, but His message is still with us: “Do not be afraid, Just have faith.”

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Just have faith. This is a difficult message to bring to a world that operates on facts, figures and fortunes. Try telling “Just have faith” to a businessman, or to a politician, or to those who have money and power in their hands. It is a message they will be hard put to relate to or understand. Of course, sooner or later they will. In fact we all will—when we become weak, helpless and desperate, and realize that nothing and no one can heal and save us except our God. What makes us not realize our need for God is our pride, our stupid and foolish pride.

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I have met so many Jairuses as well as women afflicted with a hopeless hemorrhage in my 35 years as a priest, especially when performing the sacrament of reconciliation or the sacrament of the sick. At that point in their lives, it was humility that helped them find the light and the way. Yes, humility is the road to take so we can experience healing and a new life.

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Notice how Jesus left the crowd and went out of His way for a little child? Notice, too, how he asked “Who touched me?” as he walked past the crowd pressing in on him? That only shows how personal Jesus is to each and everyone of us! Yes, we all count in God’s eyes no matter how insignificant or unworthy we are! Yes, for the Lord, every person is worth stopping for, every person is important, valuable and lovable.

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Notice as well how Jesus left the crowd and brought with Him only Peter, James and John to go to Jairus’ house? And that He took along only Jairus and those with him and entered the room where the dead child was? Jesus is telling us the importance of community faith, aside from personal faith. Yes, let us draw strength, encouragement and inspiration from one another. We make our journey to God’s heart, not alone, but with help, lots of help, from our fellow believers.

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“Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The Lord is telling us—not only as individuals, but as a people and as a nation—to rise up from our hopelessness. Let us not pin too much hope on so-called political messiahs who promise to lead us out of our poverty and misery. They won’t. We ourselves must tell them and dictate to them what we want and what we require of them. They are our public servants. They themselves profess that they are our public servants, so let us treat them as such and tell them so, especially in the coming elections. Let us talk. Let not money talk!

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In line with Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si” for the integrity of Creation and climate change, somebody texted me a very simple and doable suggestion: Instead of throwing in the garbage the seeds of fruits in season, let us throw them on idle land and let them grow into trees especially during the rainy season. Let us leave behind something good for the future generation. Yes, let us fill our land with plants and trees or whatever is of value.

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Think about this. What will you regret at the end of your life: I wish I had worked harder? I wish I had more power? I wish I had more money? I wish I had lived longer? How about: I wish I had loved people more? I wish I had sacrificed and shared more?

I wish I had loved God more?

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Inviting you to a pilgrimage to Medjugorje plus Croatia (Dubrovnik and Split), and shrines in Italy including Padre Pio Shrine, Loreto, Lanciano, Manoppello and Rome on Oct. 12-24. For particulars, please call Executive Resources (0917-5235456 or 09176311902).

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help me just to have faith, no matter what. Amen.