St. Maria Goretti, virgin & martyr 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Hosea 2:16, 17c-18, 21-22

So I am going to allure her,

lead her once more into the desert, where I can speak to her tenderly. Then I will give back her vineyards, make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will answer me as in her youth, as when she came out of the land of Egypt.

On that day, Yahweh says, you will call me my husband, and never again: my Baal.  You will be my spouse forever, betrothed in justice and integrity; we will be united in love and tenderness. I will espouse you in faithfulness and you will come to know Yahweh.

 

Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

The Lord is gracious and merciful.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 9:18-26

While Jesus was speaking to them, an official of the synagogue came up to him, bowed before him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and place your hands on her, and she will live.” Jesus stood up and followed him with his disciples.

 Then a woman who had suffered from a severe bleeding for twelve years came up from behind and touched the edge of his cloak. For she thought, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned, saw her and said, “Cour­age, my daughter, your faith has saved you.” And from that moment the woman was cured.

 When Jesus arrived at the offi­cial’s house and saw the flute players and the excited crowd, he said, “Get out of here! The girl is not dead. She is only sleeping!” And they laughed at him. But once the crowd had been turned out, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up. The news of this spread through the whole area.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Most comedy programs on television come with recorded laughter. Even if the scene does not amuse, someone else can laugh for us. however, it is fake laughter. Similarly, when we lose someone or something, someone else can grieve with us or even take care of our inability to handle the loss.

When we have drained all our energy in the face of failure or loss, consolers are there to make us feel we are not alone. But consolers can only sympathize with our grief, they do not really own our grief.

They do not know what we really long for at the loss of someone. In times of grief, we need a life-giver more than a co-griever. Jesus is asking us to imitate the synagogue official who ignored the consolers and sought a life-giver in God. Jesus gives life when we are down rather than joinus in our downfall.