The hemorrhaging woman, Jesus, and the Eucharist

At one point I was struggling with something and I thought "If only I could be like the woman in the Bible who reached out and touched Jesus and was healed..."

"...there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, 'If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.' and immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease...And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your disease.'" Mark 5:25-29, 34 (RSV)

First of all to have her faith would be amazing...believing that if I touched the clothes of Christ I would finally be healed. Think about it. SHE HAS BEEN BLEEDING FOR 12 YEARS...12 YEARS! And she believes that by touching this man's clothes, the healing that years of expensive medical visits could not grant her, could finally be received.

Just by touching His clothes

WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTT What a crazy leap of faith that must have been, and she had to push through the crowds to do it. I can only imagine she was in immense pain...and yet, to her, it was worth it...and oh was it worth it!

Second, sometimes I long for Jesus to be here. Like oh to be that woman, to be able to find Jesus and touch His clothes. To be able to be HEALED by Him. Can you imagine? What times!

And then I think a little harder...and I pray a little harder...and I think...well God is here now...in many ways.... Jesus is present in the Eucharist....in my own body...

OH MY GOODNESS!

Ok, self, you mean to tell me that more than touching His clothing, I actually become a tabernacle and hold the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ within me?!?!?!?!

I mean, yes. As a Catholic, I believe that the consecrated Eucharist really is Jesus. I believe that He is available to me physically in the Eucharist every day. I do more than touch His clothes....I see Him and touch Him, and hold Him within me every time I go to mass.

What a beautiful thing! To have Jesus physically present in the Eucharist. What a wonder, what a miracle! Yet, we take Him for granted. We go through the motions; stick out your hands, say Amen, consume the flat bread, walk back to your seat....did you even just think about what you did?

You said yes, Lord, I believe that this is really You when you say amen. You become a tabernacle containing Jesus in His body, blood, soul, and divinity. You grow in unity with the universal Church because we "are one body, one body in Christ, and we do not stand alone."

I've been trying to think of a conclusion for this post...but how can there be a conclusion for something so great? Go to church, receive Him, rejoice!

Faith and Windshield Wipers

My name is Brittany and I need new windshield wipers.

This is a basic every day life kind of thing right? right.

...but here is the thing...I never remember I need to do something about them until it rains.

I don't think about going to the store literally a block and a half away from my house until the rain is coming down, or the fog is thick and my wipers leave this lovely streak right in the middle of my line of vision. I don't want to do anything about the issue with my windshield wipers until I need them to work and they aren't doing it the way I want them to.

Still seems fairly normal right? Something your average person does...well add to that the fact that two and a half years ago I moved to the land of rapidly changing weather, severe weather, and sudden torrential downpours.

I live somewhere that I NEED my windshield wipers to work.

Ok, ok, but what does that have to do with faith?

Do we not do the same thing with our faith? I know I do.

Sometimes I forget to pray. Sometimes I let my relationship with God waiver. Things are going well, the sun is shining my life is somewhat together, I'm sleeping well, I don't "need" anything from God. He's given me what I need for right now so I don't feel the need to talk to him. I don't feel like praying at night because I just want to go to sleep. I'll do it later.

And then BAM the bad weather of real life hits like driving home from work in the rain suddenly realizing that you should have bought those windshield wipers when it was sunny out and you could see while you were driving.

Life hits hard.

What do you do? Suddenly you care about God again. Suddenly you start to pray. God, why oh why God is this happening? I need you now. I need you now more than ever.

And God is just chilling there like. Child, I've been here the whole time. I've been longing for you, waiting for you. Where have you been? I've loved you, waited for you sent my love to you and had my heart ache for you. My child let me help you and please do not leave.

Stay with me, He says.

Go to Him in the bad times, yes, but rejoice with him in the good. Rest in Him always. Don't wait for the rain. Praise Him in the sun.