Catholic Men’s Daily Devotional – 14th Week in Ordinary time – Monday – Matthew 9:18-26

As Christ reclines at table with Matthew and others, Jairus, the ruler of the local synagogue (Mark 5:22), kneels before Christ, begging Him to raise his daughter from the dead. Jairus, a respected and powerful Jewish leader, risks his social and religious standing by publicly humbling himself before Jesus and making an impossible request. Jesus, seeing Jairus’ faith, arises and goes with him.

On the way to the dead girl, a woman bleeding for 12 years, pushes through the crowd to approach Jesus from behind.  Ritually impure due to her hemorrhage and an outcast from society and Temple worship, she humbly seeks only to touch Jesus’ garment, faithfully seeking a miracle.  Immediately, Christ turns to face her, mysteriously knowing she has touched His cloak tassel and of her illness, and grants her a miraculous healing and salvation because of her faith.

Entering Jairus’ house, Jesus dismisses those wailing over the girls’ death, saying “the girl is not dead but sleeping”; the crowd laughs at Christ. After putting them out, Christ takes the dead girl’s hand and raises her to life. Returning to life, the first thing the little girl sees is the face of God. News of the miracle spreads like wildfire.

Awed by Jesus Christ – Son of God and Almighty King, Jesus Christ exudes charisma and power, causing even power rulers to kneel before Him. Divine Mercy, Jesus responds with compassion to the desperate and with patience to those who mock Him. Divine Physician, Christ has a supernatural awareness of illness and even the state of a departed soul; He has the knowledge and power to heal and raise the dead with a word.  Divine Priest, Christ issues the New Covenant and overturns ritual purity laws that are no longer needed.

Being a Heroic Catholic Man

1) Those who are moved to encounter the Son of God, especially the desparate, are convinced of His miraculous power and humble themselves before Him. Commit to seek out Christ through prayer and scripture and beg Him for an unshakable faith, knowing that Christ responds to those who fervently seek Him.

2) In response to recent widespread attempts to emasculate men to elevate women, many men are rejecting manhood: using women for sex, avoiding commitment to women and children and remaining stuck in prolonged adolescence.  Jesus, the Perfect Man, demonstrates heroic masculinity as He miraculously heals and saves His daughters. Pray that Christ give you the ability to imitate His heroic manhood and to uphold the dignity of women.

3) Today Christ is mocked by atheists, Satanists and by all who revel in and support sin. Rather than hating Christ’s enemies, Catholic men must have compassion and pray for those who mock the Almighty King; unrepentant, they will face horrific destruction. Pray for Christ guide you to respond with heroic love to those who mock Him.

Spiritual Practices – Include in Today’s Prayers

Sacred Mystery of Rosary – The Joyful Mysteries

Daily Devotion – The Souls in Purgatory

Virtue of the Day – Prudence

Corporal Work of Mercy – To give drink to the thirsty

Spiritual Work of Mercy – To instruct the ignorant