Monday – 14th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Matthew 9:18-26

Meeting Me Halfway

Chapel at Magdala

Two young women, Mary and Beth, were next-door neighbors.  More importantly, they were the best of friends.  At least until one day when they had a terrible argument!  It doesn’t matter what the argument was about.  What matters is that it got so heated that they both declared the friendship was over and they both stormed off to their homes. 

Beth spent the night tossing and turning; she just couldn’t sleep.  She missed her best friend, and she felt so bad about the argument.  Finally in the middle of the night, she got up and headed to Mary’s house to make amends.  As she gets about halfway, there is Mary right in front of her, running toward her house.  So they both met in the middle, expressed their sorrow over the incident and tearfully hugged each other, best friends again!

My guess is that we have all been in a similar situation!  And we have made it into a contest of being stubborn!  Who can last the longest without talking?  I’m not gonna apologize; you apologize!  It hurts too much to do/say anything!  And so we banish ourselves to loneliness and probably a good dose of bitterness as well, Poor me!  I’m all alone!

Today’s Gospel should be familiar; we just heard it two Sundays ago.  At that time, we reflected on the woman and on Jairus.  They each took a journey of faith to meet Jesus.  But let’s focus on Jesus today. Consider Jesus’ response.  He doesn’t let either of them make the whole journey alone.  Jesus turned and moved toward the woman with the hemorrhage.  When Jairus explains about his sick daughter, Jesus goes to him and then goes with him to his home.  Jesus meets them along their journey of faith!

Let that be our reminder today.  In moments of pain and trial, when we are in need of healing and comfort, Jesus meets us along the way.  We are not alone in facing our difficulties.  Jesus is always there!  He meets us halfway; shouldn’t we being doing the same?

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