First Reading - Genesis 28:10-22
Gospel - Matthew 9:18-26
In the first reading, Jacob is on a journey, alone and vulnerable, fleeing from his brother Esau. He stops to rest and has a dream that becomes a profound spiritual experience. In the dream, he sees a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. At the top of the ladder stands the Lord, who reaffirms the promise made to Abraham and Isaac. When Jacob awakens, he is filled with awe and exclaims, “Truly the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” He sets up a stone as a pillar and calls the place Bethel, which means “house of God.” This episode reminds us that even in the most ordinary or difficult moments of our lives, God is present. Often, it takes silence or solitude for us to become aware of His nearness.
In the Gospel, we encounter two people in desperate situations: a synagogue official whose daughter has just died, and a woman suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. Both approach Jesus with faith. The official says, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” The woman, convinced of Jesus’ healing power, thinks, “If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus responds to both with compassion and power. He restores life to the girl and heals the woman. These miracles are signs of God’s kingdom breaking into human suffering through the presence of Jesus. They show that faith, even when expressed in simple gestures or desperate requests, opens the door to God’s saving action.
Dear friends, today’s readings invite us to renew our awareness of God’s presence in our lives. Like Jacob, we may sometimes feel alone or afraid. Like the official or the woman, we may be burdened by loss, pain, or hopelessness. But Scripture reminds us that the Lord is in our midst—even if we do not immediately perceive Him. Faith helps us to see what the eyes cannot see. Faith helps us to trust that, in Jesus, God draws near to heal, to save, and to give new life.
Let us carry this faith in our hearts as we journey through life. Let us remember that even in the darkest valleys, God walks with us. And let us reach out to Him, as the woman did, believing that even the smallest act of trust can unleash the power of His grace.
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