Readings: Hebrews 12:1-4, Ps. 22:26-28,30-32, Mark 5:21-43
“He put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.” (Mark 5:40)
To enjoy everything God has for us, we must eliminate three things: sin, fear, and doubt.
- The word ‘sin’ means ‘to miss the mark.’ Like in the game of archery, we throw the arrow off course each time we sin. No player is happy when he constantly misses, so he disciplines himself; he spends long hours training to master hitting the target. Sin is what happens when a basketballer throws the ball, and it bounces off the basket. It is what happens when a footballer fails to convert a penalty shootout.
- Sin (missing the mark, the ideals God has set for us) is a weight. This is because sin is addictive. The more we miss the mark, the less guilt we feel. We soon start telling ourselves, “It is not that bad. I am not the worst out there. After all, the bodily organs were made for this. And so on.” Sin is a weight that prevents us from running the race set before us with perseverance.
- How do we drop the weight of sin? Get ready to fight the self. Every person is their worst enemy. That which wants to kill you is within you. You must kill your love for sin before it kills you. St. Paul says: “I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). In another passage, he said: “If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13).
- Practice self-discipline. You are more than your flesh. Avoid indulging the flesh with its cravings all the time. The Letter to the Hebrews says: “Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:3-4). Even Jesus was hostile to himself. Do not be that international footballer who always plays the ball off-course when he has a chance of scoring. Even if avoiding sin requires shedding your blood, it is better to crucify the flesh and its desires than to lose consciousness of sin.
- The second weight we must drop is fear. When you are afraid of something, it becomes bigger than you in your eyes. Fear is a false expectation based on previous experience. The more we expect something to happen, the more likely it will happen. It is like a magnetic force. Stop focusing on the magnitude of the problem; focus on the solution. Hold on to your imagination and act on it. This is exactly what the woman with the hemorrhage did.
- Mark writes: “She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’” (Mark 5:27-28). This woman imagined herself cured; she spoke to herself and acted on it. As little children, we didn’t carry this weight on our shoulders. We believed we could become anything, but as adults, we have become prisoners of our fears.
- Closely related to fear is doubt. It is a state of uncertainty about God. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus told the mourners in Jarius’ house that the little girl was only sleeping, but as a result of their doubt, they laughed at Jesus. To them, Jesus was out of his mind. To drop the weight of doubt, we must cut ties with people who doubt God’s power. This is exactly what Jesus did by sending everyone out of the house.
- The tongue is powerful; there is no “harmless talk.” As God created the world by speaking, we can also create by speaking. Jesus is all-powerful, yet He wouldn’t raise the dead girl without first driving away those who were speaking negative things. Jesus didn’t want any negative energy.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, take away from us any weight preventing us from running the race you set for us. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Tuesday of week 4 in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Hebrews 12:1-4, Ps. 22:26-28,30-32, Mark 5:21-43).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu