The Lord is kind and merciful. This response to today's psalm captures the theme of today's two readings - God's love and graciousness, reaching out to the lost, desiring to bring healing to the sick and life to those who have fallen asleep in death. The desert is a place of quiet, a place where we can be alone, and this is the place where God chooses to speak to the heart of a person, to bring her home from all the places where she has been scattered, back to herself and back to God where she will experience again God's mercy, love and fidelity. God speaks words of love and tenderness to lure her out of her slavery and bring her back to enjoy friendship with God forever.

In the cure of the woman we see a certain resistance to come to Jesus, perhaps even embarrassment, yet in her despair she reaches out to touch His cloak hoping to be healed. Jesus again knows the deep desire of her heart and praising her for her deep faith, he heals her of her illness.

Likewise the synagogue official. Jesus responds to his pleading and his deep faith and brings his daughter back to life. Truly the Lord is full of tenderness and compassion. Perhaps today is a day to reflect on what I desire most at this time for myself or for someone else I am concerned about. With faith and confidence I place this desire before the Lord as I pray: