Breaking the Word

While he was saying these things to them, 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. (Mt 9:18-26)

Common belief and common experience is that people always went to holy persons to pray for healing and miracles. This has been a sort of religious practice among people. Holy persons and godly persons had the divine power with them and they communicated this power through doing miracles and healing the sick. Jesus also was in line with this thinking but the only difference is that Jesus was much more than just a holy person.

Miracles and healings are done not only by the holy persons but also these powers are experienced in the things connected to them. That is the reason the woman says in this passage, "If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured". Holiness and the divine power is experienced even in the things related to the persons and the places. Shall we say holiness is contagious or at least it should be so.

Jesus said to the flute players and the crowd, "Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping". Jesus had power over even the dead. Rather he was able to give life to the dead. This is the expression of the faith that Jesus was God on earth. Only God can give life (belief of the Israelites = life belongs to God and only he can give to whomsoever he wants). Holy persons actions are always life giving that is to say that his actions are positive (proactive). 

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed." (Jn 20:24-29)

Experience of Thomas has been the experience of many. He missed Jesus when he came. We end up as persons who are not privileged to see the Lord. We also experience that others are always in a better position than ourselves.  Such experiences leave us to challenge even God. We want an equal treatment even when we do not deserve or even when we are not prepared for it. We want God to be just and generous even when we are not cooperating with him.

Jesus always gives his experience to everyone. He not only obliges us but he just and equal. He continues to be good and just and revealing and generous. At the second incident again Jesus was as he was at the first. Thomas was there at that time. If by chance he had missed that chance also there would have been a third and fourth. (Jesus revealed himself many times). For Jesus continues to be the same. It depends on us if we are present or not.

Belief does not depend on experiences alone. Experiences definitely give a basis for the revelation of God. Experiences induce belief and strengthen faith and so on. People who are beyond all these experiences and who do not depend on these are better of.  Faith should not be limited or controlled by experiences. Belief has value in itself and stands by itself.