The Guiding Light!

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Heb 12:1-4; Mk 5:21-43

Today’s Gospel highlights two healing narratives. 

The first is the healing of the woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. Reading the narrative, one cannot but admire the simple faith of the woman who says to herself, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.’ Though the Gospel passage describes her pathetic condition, highlighting her pain and suffering, we find her filled with faith and courage to approach the Lord to present her cause from a distance. She teaches us what it is to have faith in God. Her act of faith reminds me of what the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once said, ‘Faith sees best in the dark.’ He meant that faith is strongest and most visible during times of hardship or uncertainty when the future is unclear and one cannot rely on sight or reason alone. Essentially, faith allows one to see hope even in the darkest situations. Though she had every reason to blame God, we come across her as someone filled with faith that heals her.

The second healing narrative is that of Jairus’ daughter. Here, we encounter another ‘hopeless situation.’ Though Jairus makes an appeal in faith, what unfolds later unsettles him. If he is already struggling to make sense of the news about the death of his daughter, the people around Jesus start discouraging him, saying, ‘Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?’ Jairus could have left Jesus’ presence in grief immediately. But the man who made his appeal to Jesus decides to stay back only to find Jesus’ intervention on his behalf. No discouragement removes him from the presence of Jesus. Hence, we understand that his daughter’s life is the gift of his faith. The attitude of Jairus confirms that ‘With faith, we keep the door open for God to enter in.’ Jairus becomes the example of holding fast to God in faith, even when we are surrounded by despair and discouragement.

Today, the Indian Church celebrates the feast of St. John de Britto (1647-1693), one of the earliest Jesuit missionaries to India. While his exemplary missionary life is known to many through his hagiography, the letter he wrote requesting to be sent to the missions remains a testament to his missionary commitment. The letter reveals his passion and becomes our lesson. 

‘To the Most Reverend Father Provincial of the Society of Jesus in Portugal,

With profound humility and a burning desire to serve our Lord, I, Brother John de Britto, humbly beseech your esteemed consideration to send me forth as a missionary to the lands of India, specifically to the Madurai Mission.

Since my youth, my heart has been drawn to the call of spreading the Gospel to those who have yet to hear its message, and I believe that the challenging terrain of India, with its diverse cultures and deeply rooted beliefs, presents a unique opportunity to witness to Christ’s love.

I have completed my studies in theology and am prepared to fully dedicate myself to the arduous task of evangelization, embracing the local customs and languages to effectively reach the people of India. I am ready to face any hardship, persecution, or danger that may arise in the pursuit of this sacred mission.

With unwavering faith and a fervent spirit, I humbly implore your blessing and approval to embark on this journey to the Indian missions, where I hope to live my life in service to God and the Church.

May the grace of our Lord guide my steps and illuminate my path.

In the service of Christ,

Brother John de Britto, SJ’

St. John de Britto’s mission certainly enriched the erstwhile Madura mission. Today, he is the patron saint of dioceses like Madurai and Sivagangai. 

Let us pray that our journey of faith may be guided by the example of St. John de Britto!

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar