Every now and then we tend to put Jesus into a nice little box. Some say He was just a good man, or that He is like all the other world religion leaders like Buddha, Lao Tzu, or Confucius. All I can say is “Wrong answer recruit”. Jesus was indeed fully human, and like us in all things except sin. However, He is also fully Divine, and as such has the very power of God Almighty radiating through Him.
None of the other world religion leaders ever claimed to “Be God”. Buddha taught his people to follow his teachings, Lao Tzu told his students to follow “The Way”, and Confucius told his disciples to follow his sayings. None of them ever claimed to be God.
Then we come to Jesus who taught that He is the Way and the Truth and the Life. If you believed in Him you would have ever lasting life. He and the Father are one. The passages go on and on, so don’t fall for that popular notion that Jesus is just like all the other religious leaders. He is not. In today’s readings we have two examples of our Blessed Lord’s divinity shining through. In both cases the people involved are at the “end of their ropes” so to speak. They are desperate and hurting.
It is amazing that when people are crying out in desperation or pain, there are no more masks or pretenses or games. Instead there is simply a cry or plea for help. In the first case a synagogue official has a child who is dying. Hopefully this has never happened to you, but if it has then you can relate to the extreme suffering and anguish this parent makes to save his child.
In the second case we have a woman who has hemorrhages for 12 years and has spent all her money trying to be healed. If you can identify with her then you know the pain in her soul as she just tries to touch Jesus. When she touches our Lord, power leaves him and she is healed. In a similar and miraculous way our Lord raises the child of the official who has died and He restores her to life. It is the faith of these two people and the will of God that caused these miracles to occur.
So, this week, let us ask God for an increase in our own faith. Let us lift up those in prayer who are hurting or wounded, and finally let us trust in Jesus Christ who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”. Glory be His name forever and ever, and may God richly bless all of you!