Daily Meditation - Saturday 28June 2008 - PRAYER NEVER GOES UNANSWERED

[BarbaraTherese]

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St. Irenaeus - Bishop, Martyr
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Mass Readings and Meditation

Readings

Meditation

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Matthew 8:5-17

If we took a poll, we’d probably find most Christians believe that Jesus’ miracles were real.

• But if we asked them if miracles still occurred, some might say no.
• They might claim that miracles happened only in the time of Jesus and his apostles, as a way to proclaim his authority and power as the Son of God.
• Now that the church is established, God has dispensed with miracles—
• except perhaps when he works through a few extraordinary saints.
  But if we read about the healing of the centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law, and the many people whom Jesus delivered of evil spirits, we get a different picture.

• Jesus was not about demonstrating his authority as much as his love.
• When he said that God’s kingdom was at hand,
• he was talking about more than another church building going up.
• He was announcing the Father’s plan to communicate his mercy and compassion to his children.

If there’s one thing we know about God, it’s that he is very much alive! He has never stopped trying to get through to us and show us who he is. These miracle accounts are Jesus’ invitation to us—right now, in the midst of our day-to-day concerns—to embrace the salvation he came to bring us. Although we may be used to thinking small, he wants us to think big. The only limit to what he can do in our lives is how much—or how little—faith we have in him.

• Just as the centurion sought Jesus’ help so long ago,
• we too can reach out to him now.
• Jesus is eager to respond to us with signs of his presence, love, and healing power.
• We can’t predict exactly what kinds of healings we will receive. We may not see the physical cure we are asking for.
• We may still have to bear the memory of an inner wound or disappointment.
  But this is certain:
• No one who turns to Jesus is ever turned away.
• Each and every one of us receives a healing touch—
• maybe in surprising areas of our lives—
• and that touch is enough to fill us with hope and joy that the world simply cannot give.
  “Jesus, I surrender.
  I give you all of my sickness, all of my wounds,
  all of my grief:
  You are my only hope, Lord.
  Stretch out your hand, and touch me with your love.”