Courage

​Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.

MATTHEW 9:18-26

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Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

​“Courage Daughter! Your faith has saved you.” As we have just read in this gospel passage about this woman who has been suffering for twelve years. As it says suffering from hemorrhages, which means that she has all these bleeding sores all over her body and that hemorrhages would probably often get infected as well. This is both painful and made it impossible to live any kind of normal life. So as a result this woman, assuming she had a home, probably didn’t go out much and when she did it she probably went at strange times to avoid as many people as possible.

Which now brings us to this encounter with Jesus. She has heard about this man performing these unbelievable miracles. Many of the people who went to see Jesus gathered in part because they did not believe that he could do what he could, which I can’t say I blame them. When was the last time you saw someone bring another person back to life? However, this woman was different. She believed, she believed so deeply that Christ could heal her that she went out in a large crowd of people, something she would most certainly have avoided at all costs normally. Then on top of that, she has to fight her way through this crowd, something else she would have most certainly avoided, as that would have been both embarrassing and painful considering her condition. Finally, she gets close enough to Christ and she thinks to herself “If only I touch his cloak, I shall be cured” That is exactly what happens. This woman had both tremendous courage and faith to go out and encounter Christ that day, and because she took courage, God rewarded her. God did not make that woman courageous, she decided that day to be courageous and no matter the consequences no matter the pain or ridicule she was going to meet the Lord and show her faith in him.

We have a lot of different reasons to be afraid, or at least we are constantly being told reasons we should be afraid. This woman had a lot of reasons to be afraid, but instead, she took courage and allowed her faith in Christ to change her life. Christ wants to change your life, but my question to you is this. If that woman stayed home and lived a life of fear, and never encountered the Lord that day, would her life have been better or worse than it was at the end of this Gospel passage? Do not be afraid to be courageous for the Lord because when you take courage and step out in faith He will change your life.

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Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

When is a time in your life that you chose courage for your faith? 

What is preventing you from being brave when sharing and/or your living out your faith?

How has your life been different because of your faith?

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Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"Take courage."

"Lord, give me courage."

​"Jesus I trust in you."

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Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

What is one thing you can do today with courage to live out your faith? Maybe it is saying grace in public or maybe it is talking to a friend about Jesus. Do one thing today bravely and ask the Lord for help. 

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Smartphone Lock Screen

The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.

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Today's prayer was prepared by Jason Liuzzi, a middle school religion teacher at St. John the Evangelist School in St John, IN. 

If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.