Homily for Monday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time

In today's Gospel passage, we see two individuals in need of help who approached Jesus. One was a synagogue official imploring assistance for his daughter, while the other was a woman suffering from bleeding who came to Jesus on her own behalf. Their approaches to Jesus were quite different. The synagogue official approached Him publicly, bowing low and speaking his request aloud so that everyone could hear. In contrast, the woman approached Jesus more discreetly, touching the tassel of His cloak and quietly expressing her hopes for healing.

Each of us connects with the Lord in our own unique way. Our personal approach to Jesus mirrors how we relate to others. Both the synagogue official and the woman demonstrated faith, but they expressed it in different ways. Our faith unites us as a worshiping community while still allowing for our individuality to shine through.

Despite the different ways in which they approached Him, Jesus responded generously and respectfully to both individuals. He did not show favoritism but rather addressed their needs with compassion and understanding. This reminds us that God's response to us is always considerate of the unique ways we come to Him with our requests. It serves as a powerful testament to the value and respect He has for each person and their individual approach to faith.