Homily for Monday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel passage, we saw two people in need of help approaching Jesus. One of them was a synagogue official who implored for help for his daughter. The other was a woman suffering from bleeding who came to Jesus on her own behalf. The way these two people approached Jesus was quite different. The synagogue official approached Jesus in a very public way, bowing low in front of Him and speaking his need and request so all could hear. The woman approached Jesus secretively, touching the tassel on His cloak and speaking quietly to herself, hoping things might change for the better.

Each of us approaches the Lord in our own way. Our way of connecting with Jesus is always personal, just like the way we relate to others. The synagogue official and the woman both had faith, but they expressed it differently. Our faith unites us as a worshipping community without suppressing our individuality.

Despite the different ways in which the two approached Jesus, His response was generous and respectful to both. He did not favor one over the other and responded to their needs and cries for help. This is a powerful reminder that God's response to us is always shaped by and respectful of the unique way that each of us approaches Him with our needs. It is a testament to the value and respect He holds for each of us and our individual approaches to faith.