It is 30th January 2018. The readings are from 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3; and the Gospel from Mark 5:21-43. The dichotomy in life is that we defeat and defend those who love us and so close to us while we fight and fret about those who hate us. In the first reading, we reflect a situation, King David mourns for his son Absalom who revolted against him and got killed in a battle against the king. We mourn for those who wish to harm us and destroy us leaving those who would go for an extra mile for us. The opposition and difference of opinions would bound to come in our lives. If it comes from our own blood relationship, it hurts to the core. It leaves a wound in our being that will be remembered and grieved for the rest of the life. David moaned for his son who opposed him and wanted him to be replaced. Unless we obtain the necessary spiritual blessings from the Lord and built on lasting virtues and values, we will be living a life of grief and moaning for those who wish to harm us. Terminal illness, death and grief are too powerful for us to handle it alone. We need the intervention and the touch of Jesus to be integrally healed. The responsorial Psalm intercedes, “Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer.” (Ps.85:1). In the Gospel, Jesus heals and gives life to an adult and a child respectively. When we have faith like that of the woman and the synagogue official, we can overcome any obstacle in our lives. We do not believe enough that Jesus could deal with our problems and challenges of our lives. The Gospel passage offers the courage to believe even when everybody has failed in our lives. Jesus never fails. May you have a good day.