REFLECTIONS TODAY Jacob realizes that God is always with him, protecting him wherever he goes, never leaving him until God has done to him what he promised (Gn 28:15). No wonder, he calls the place where God manifested himself in a dream Beth-El, “the house of God.” The woman suffering hemorrhages for 12 years and the official whose daughter has just died must have felt abandoned by God—disease and death have struck them. It is Jesus now, no longer the angels going up and down the stairway, who manifests God’s protective and healing presence. It is Jesus who comes to us when we plead for God’s presence, and tell us, “Courage… Your faith has saved you.” GOSPEL • MATTHEW 9:18-26 While Jesus was speaking, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land. SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.