Three Miracles

Welcome to my first blog post! May you truly enjoy this story of miraculous healing and saving faith! This short homily is based on the Gospel reading for Sunday, November 4, 2018 (Luke 8:41-56). Thanks so much for visiting!

With Love in Christ,

-- Fr. Deacon David

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. (John 11:25-26)

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Three Miracles

Nearly 2000 years ago, a man named Jairus had a little girl who had become seriously ill, and because the medicine of their day provided no cure for her illness, she was dying. With no hope left him but his hope in the power of God, Jairus set out to find an unusual preacher that he and so many others had been hearing so much about: a certain Jesus, Who people were saying wielded God’s miraculous power to heal all sorts of afflictions and diseases.

At that same time, a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, because the medicine of her day provided no cure. She, like Jairus, had become without hope except for her hope in the power of God, and she sought to draw near to Jesus as well.

A few months ago, an Auburn, New York woman, a health care worker and mother of two, received a greeting card while at work. The card was given her because of her diagnosis with an incurable disease: stage four, triple negative breast cancer.

The cover of the greeting card is an Orthodox Christian icon of Jesus Christ. Inside the card is a hand-written greeting from “The Faithful of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church”, which informs the woman that they have heard of her difficulties and ask her to please accept their humble monetary gift to help with some of her medical expenses, and to know that they are praying for her recovery. But this is not all…

Within the card is a tiny, Ziploc baggy. Inside is a portion of cotton ball, soaked with a strange, aromatic substance. There’s a note attached to the baggy that reads: “This cotton is soaked with myrrh that miraculously streams from an icon of our Lord’s mother, Mary. Many who have been anointed with this oil, with prayers, have received healing of their serious illnesses. Please anoint yourself with this oil and ask our Lord’s mother to pray to her Son for your healing and salvation.”

Being without any other hope for a cure of her illness, as the medicine of our day could offer none, and left only with her hope in the power of God, the woman anointed herself with the sweet-smelling myrrh that is said to miraculously flow from the surface of an icon of the mother of God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, and she prayed.

Returning our attention to the Biblical narrative, Jairus went and got Jesus to come and save his little girl. While they were on their way to Jairus’ house, the woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years secretly reached forth her hand from amongst the thronging crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, and her incurable flow of blood was suddenly cured. Then, someone came from Jairus’ house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” But the Teacher continued to Jairus’ house anyway and entering the room where the poor girl lay dead, He “took her by the hand and called, saying, ‘Little girl, arise.’ Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.”

On Thursday, November 1, 2018, the woman with stage four, triple negative breast cancer, who had anointed herself with the mysterious holy oil and prayed, heard the final news from her physicians that the incurable cancer they’d been treating her for could no longer be found anywhere in her body.


These three miracles are true; not just pious fables. I will now venerate them with my silence and leave you to exercise your own mind upon them. May the Holy Spirit cause the power behind them to sink into your heart, to strengthen it, as He has strengthened ours.

And let us hear the words of our Great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ;

His words to the woman with the flow of blood: “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:48)

… And to Jairus, whose beloved daughter had died: “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” (Luke 8:50)

… And to us all: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies. and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.

Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Yes Lord, we do believe. Please help our unbelief. (Mark 9:24)

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Glory be to Jesus Christ! Glory forever! Amen.

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