Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 324
Lectionary: 324
Brothers and
sisters:
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
Responsorial PsalmPS 22:26B-27, 28 AND 30, 31-32
R. (see 27b) They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts be ever merry!”
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
All the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
Before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts be ever merry!”
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
All the ends of the earth
shall remember and turn to the LORD;
All the families of the nations
shall bow down before him.
To him alone shall bow down
all who sleep in the earth;
Before him shall bend
all who go down into the dust.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
And to him my soul shall live;
my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
the justice he has shown.
R. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
AlleluiaMT 8:17
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 5:21-43
When Jesus had
crossed again in the boat to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
“My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live.”
He went off with him
and a large crowd followed him.
There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to him,
“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, Who touched me?”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
“Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep.”
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”
which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
“My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live.”
He went off with him
and a large crowd followed him.
There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.
She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors
and had spent all that she had.
Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd
and touched his cloak.
She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.”
Immediately her flow of blood dried up.
She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,
turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?”
But his disciples said to him,
“You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,
and yet you ask, Who touched me?”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
The woman, realizing what had happened to her,
approached in fear and trembling.
She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you.
Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said,
“Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
“Do not be afraid; just have faith.”
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
“Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep.”
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child’s father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,”
which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!”
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.
Meditation: The
woman who took heart in Jesus
Do you approach the
Lord Jesus with expectant faith or with skeptical doubt? People in desperate or
helpless circumstances were not disappointed when they sought Jesus out. What
drew them to Jesus? Was it hope for a miracle or a word of comfort in their
affliction? What did the elderly woman who had suffered miserably for twelve
years expect Jesus to do for her? And what did a grieving father expect Jesus
to do for his beloved daughter who was at the point of death? Jesus gave hope
where there seemed to be no human cause for it because his hope was directed to
God. He spoke words of hope to the woman (Take heart, daughter!) to
ignite the spark of faith in her (your faith has made you well!).
Ephrem the Syrian
(306-373 AD), an early church Scripture scholar and author of hymns and
commentaries, reflected on the miracle of the woman who was healed of her flow
of blood:
"Glory to you,
hidden Son of God, because your healing power is proclaimed through the hidden
suffering of the afflicted woman. Through this woman whom they could see, the
witnesses were enabled to behold the divinity that cannot be seen. Through the
Son's own healing power his divinity became known. Through the afflicted
women's being healed her faith was made manifest. She caused him to be
proclaimed, and indeed was honored with him. For truth was being proclaimed
together with its heralds. If she was a witness to his divinity, he in turn was
a witness to her faith... He saw through to her hidden faith, and gave her a
visible healing."
Jesus also gave
supernatural hope to a father who had just lost a beloved child. It took considerable
courage and risk for the ruler of a synagogue to openly go to Jesus and to
invite the scorn of his neighbors and kin. Even the hired mourners laughed
scornfully at Jesus. Their grief was devoid of any hope. Nonetheless, Jesus
took the girl by the hand and delivered her from the grasp of death. Peter
Chrysologus (400-450 AD), an early church father who was renowned for his
preaching at Ravena, comments on this miracle:
"This man was a
ruler of the synagogue, and versed in the law. He had surely read that while
God created all other things by his word, man had been created by the hand of
God. He trusted therefore in God that his daughter would be recreated, and
restored to life by that same hand which, he knew, had created her... He
[Jesus] who laid hands on her to form her from nothing, once more lays hands
upon her to reform her from what had perished."
In both instances we
see Jesus' personal concern for the needs of others and his readiness to heal
and restore life. In Jesus we see the infinite love of God extending to each
and every individual as he gives freely and wholly of himself to each
person he meets. Do you approach the Lord with confident expectation that he
will hear your request and act?
"Lord Jesus, you
love each of us individually with a unique and personal love. Touch my life
with your saving power, heal and restore me to fullness of life. Help me to
give wholly of myself in loving service to others."
 Touched by Faith |
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February 3, 2015.
Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
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Mark 5:21-43
When Jesus had
crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd gathered around
him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named
Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly
with him, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come
lay your hands on her that she may get well and live." He went off with
him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. There was a woman
afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the
hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped
but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the
crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes,
I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in
her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that
power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who
has touched my clothes?" But his disciples said to him, "You see
how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ´Who touched me?´"
And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had
happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus
and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has
saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." While he
was still speaking, people from the synagogue official´s house arrived and
said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"
Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue
official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith." He did not allow
anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of
James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught
sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in
and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead
but asleep." And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took
along the child´s father and mother and those who were with him and entered
the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to
her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you,
arise!" The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked
around. (At that) they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no
one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.
Introductory Prayer:
Lord, who should I turn to first but you? You have given me another day. This
gift calls me to come to you first, to hear you first. My faith tells me
there can be nothing better than to follow your plan; my hope is to bring you
into my life and to other people; my love wants to be fuller and better — it
wants to be like yours, Lord.
Petition: Grant me
the grace of deeper trust and faith in all moments of hardship.
1. “…afflicted
with hemorrhages for twelve years”: When
problems are prolonged, or reach fever-pitch levels, we can get the mistaken
impression that God has lost interest. Somehow he seems no longer moved
by our misery. All the signs say he has forgotten us, abandoned us and
left us hanging.
But God is only seemingly absent. He is creating a new set of circumstances wherein we can experience him at a wholly new level. The long, hard and persevering fight to walk in hope enables God to bring about greater fruits of holiness in us. In the woman with the hemorrhage and in Jairus, father of a dying daughter, we must contemplate a mature and vibrant faith, observing how it conquers pessimism and transcends the cold calculations and superficial tones of their peers. Truly this is the first miracle we see that Jesus has worked for them, and the most important one.
2. “And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all
out”: The dismal voices of his “friends” come to the father. Though
they have seen the miracle of the woman with the hemorrhage, they coldly say,
“Your daughter is dead. Be realistic. It is no use to go on.” True, in the
name of realism, we can dismiss hope and cooperation with Christ’s action in
our life. We can ridicule Christ whenever he wants to work in mystery and
outside our human limits. We can be tempted to abandon trust in God in the
name of reaffirming control over our world. “Let’s be realistic,” we say. “It
will never work.” These phrases veil a weak faith, a poor faith, a
sterile or compartmentalized faith that works only when everything makes
sense to us, when everything is easy. Where there is this lack of
faith, Christ cannot work.
3. “If I but
touch his clothes, I shall be cured”: Many say they are near Christ,
yet few are acknowledged by Christ as close to him. Many were brushing
against him that day, many were verbally praising him, many were serving him,
but only one touched him and got his full attention. Why? Only one made an
act of unconditional faith. What is the secret? How can we really get
his attention, truly speak to his heart? None are closer than those who trust him,
who humbly depend on him, and who wish to live from him. The woman’s
unconditional faith was open to whatever would happen, whatever would be
Christ’s response. Those who suffer and support themselves patiently
with faith and prayer experience new levels of union with Christ.
Conversation with
Christ: Lord let me use hardships to build newer levels of trust and intimacy
with you. Open my heart to seek you on your terms.
I do not ask you for happiness or sorrow, Health or sickness, Riches or poverty, Freedom or slavery, Goods or evils; For goods are misfortunes if you do not come with them, And misfortunes are goods if they arrive with you. For goods without you, what good would they be? And misfortunes with you, are they not the best goods?
Resolution: I will
acknowledge the presence of Christ in all the difficulties of today.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, MARK 5:21-43
(Hebrews 12:1-4; Psalm 22)
(Hebrews 12:1-4; Psalm 22)
KEY VERSE: "Fear is useless; what is needed is trust" (v 36).
TO KNOW: In the midst of a busy day of ministry, Jesus received two urgent requests for healing. The first came from Jairus, an official of the local synagogue who pleaded with Jesus to come to his house and heal his critically ill daughter. While Jesus was on his way, a woman with a hemorrhage followed him, hoping to be cured. Although her condition prohibited her from having contact with anyone (Lv 15:19), she reached out in desperation and touched the hem of Jesus' garment. In an instant, a surge of power went out from Jesus and the woman was healed. Jesus assured the frightened woman that her faith had made her whole. At that moment, Jairus was informed that his daughter had died. Jesus told the distraught father not to be afraid, but to have faith. When they arrived at Jairus' home, Jesus sent the mourners away and entered the house. Taking the little girl by the hand, he raised her to new life.
TO LOVE: When I need healing, do I plead like Jairus or reach out in silence like the woman?
TO SERVE: Do I encourage others to come to Jesus for healing?
Optional Memorial of Memorial of Blase,
bishop and martyr
Blaise lived as a hermit on Mount Argeus. When the governor of Cappadocia came to Sebaste to persecute Christians, his huntsmen found Blaise at prayer in his cave. Blaise was arrested, and they tried to get him to recant his faith. While in prison, Blaise ministered to and healed fellow prisoners, including saving a child who was choking on a fish bone; this led to the blessing of throats on Blaise's feast day. Blaise has been extremely popular for centuries in both the Eastern and Western Churches.
It is customary in many places to bless the throats of the faithful with two candles tied together with a red ribbon to form a cross. The rite of the blessing of throats may take place before or after Mass. The priest or deacon places the candles around the throat of whoever seeks the blessing, using the formula: "Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you free from every disease of the throat, and from every other disease. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Excerpted from Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year.
Optional Memorial of Ansgar, bishop
Ansgar, the "apostle of the north" (Scandinavia) became a Benedictine at Corbie, France, where he had been educated. Three years later, when the king of Denmark became a convert, Ansgar went to that country for three years of missionary work. Sweden asked for Christian missionaries, and he went there, suffering hardships on the way. Less than two years later he was recalled, to become abbot of New Corbie and bishop of Hamburg. After thirteen years' work in Hamburg, Ansgar saw it burned to the ground by invading Northmen; Sweden and Denmark returned to paganism. Ansgar's biographers remark that he was an extraordinary preacher, a humble and ascetical priest, devoted to the poor and the sick. He died peacefully at Bremen, Germany, without achieving his wish to be a martyr.
Tuesday 3 February 2015
St Blaise; St Ansgar.
Hebrews 12:1-4. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you—Ps 21(22):26-28, 30-32. Mark 5:21-43.
Hebrews 12:1-4. They will praise you, Lord, who long for you—Ps 21(22):26-28, 30-32. Mark 5:21-43.
In a world preoccupied with
security and the exclusion of others, today’s gospel is both challenging and a
source of hope.
Jesus encounters a woman
who exists on the margins of Jewish society. Her recurring problem with
haemorrhages would have excluded her participation in a society which
emphasised ritual purity and cleanliness. A similar situation confronts Jesus
in dealing with Jairus’ dead daughter. Contact with the dead was a source of
defilement requiring a period of ritual cleansing.
Jesus’ response to both
situations contradicted popular wisdom. He was concerned with breaking down
barriers that impede relationships, not reinforcing them. Through her faith in
God, the woman breaks down the barriers that exclude her and is restored to her
rightful place in society. What barriers are there around and inside us that
need breaking down?
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
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Rebirth of Time
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When we celebrate New Year’s Day, maybe Easter too, we celebrate a
symbolic rebirth of time. We somehow hope for God to do new things with us and
for us. We wait for the coming of grace, for the unfolding of Mystery. We wait
for the always bigger Truth.
February
3
St. Blase
(d. 316)
St. Blase
(d. 316)
We know more about the devotion to St. Blase by Christians around
the world than we know about the saint himself. His feast is observed as a holy
day in some Eastern Churches. In 1222, the Council of Oxford prohibited servile
labor in England on Blase’s feast day. The Germans and Slavs hold him in
special honor, and for decades many United States Catholics have sought the
annual St. Blase blessing for their throats.
We know
that Bishop Blase was martyred in his episcopal city of Sebastea, Armenia, in
316. The legendary Acts of St. Blase were written 400 years
later. According to them Blase was a good bishop, working hard to encourage the
spiritual and physical health of his people. Although the Edict of Toleration
(311), granting freedom of worship in the Roman Empire, was already five years
old, persecution still raged in Armenia. Blase was apparently forced to flee to
the back country. There he lived as a hermit in solitude and prayer, but he
made friends with the wild animals. One day a group of hunters seeking wild
animals for the amphitheater stumbled upon Blase’s cave. They were first
surprised and then frightened. The bishop was kneeling in prayer surrounded by
patiently waiting wolves, lions and bears.
The
legend has it that as the hunters hauled Blase off to prison, a mother
came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat. At Blase’s
command the child was able to cough up the bone.
Agricolaus,
governor of Cappadocia, tried to persuade Blase to sacrifice to pagan idols.
The first time Blase refused, he was beaten. The next time he was suspended
from a tree and his flesh torn with iron combs or rakes. (English wool combers,
who used similar iron combs, took Blase as their patron. They could easily
appreciate the agony the saint underwent.) Finally, he was beheaded.
Comment:
Four centuries give ample opportunity for fiction to creep in with fact. Who can be sure how accurate Blase’s biographer was? But biographical details are not essential. Blase is seen as one more example of the power those have who give themselves entirely to Jesus. As Jesus told his apostles at the Last Supper, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). With faith we can follow the lead of the Church in asking for Blase’s protection.
Four centuries give ample opportunity for fiction to creep in with fact. Who can be sure how accurate Blase’s biographer was? But biographical details are not essential. Blase is seen as one more example of the power those have who give themselves entirely to Jesus. As Jesus told his apostles at the Last Supper, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). With faith we can follow the lead of the Church in asking for Blase’s protection.
Quote:
“Through the intercession of St. Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Blessing of St. Blase).
“Through the intercession of St. Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Blessing of St. Blase).
Patron Saint of:
Throat ailments
Throat ailments
LECTIO DIVINA:
MARK 5, 21-43
Lectio:
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
help us to love you with all our hearts
and to love all men as you love them.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
on God, for ever and ever. Amen.
help us to love you with all our hearts
and to love all men as you love them.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
on God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - Mark 5, 21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a
large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lake. Then the president of
the synagogue came up, named Jairus, and seeing him, fell at his feet and
begged him earnestly, saying, 'My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come
and lay your hands on her that she may be saved and may live.' Jesus went with
him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him.
Now there was a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years; after long and painful treatment under various doctors, she had spent all she had without being any the better for it; in fact, she was getting worse. She had heard about Jesus, and she came up through the crowd and touched his cloak from behind, thinking, 'If I can just touch his clothes, I shall be saved.'
And at once the source of the bleeding dried up, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint. And at once aware of the power that had gone out from him, Jesus turned round in the crowd and said, 'Who touched my clothes?' His disciples said to him, 'You see how the crowd is pressing round you; how can you ask, "Who touched me?"' But he continued to look all round to see who had done it. Then the woman came forward, frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her, and she fell at his feet and told him the whole truth. 'My daughter,' he said, 'your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free of your complaint.'
While he was still speaking some people arrived from the house of the president of the synagogue to say, 'Your daughter is dead; why put the Master to any further trouble?' But Jesus overheard what they said and he said to the president of the synagogue, 'Do not be afraid; only have faith.' And he allowed no one to go with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they came to the house of the president of the synagogue, and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. He went in and said to them, 'Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.' But they ridiculed him. So he turned them all out and, taking with him the child's father and mother and his own companions, he went into the place where the child lay. And taking the child by the hand he said to her, 'Talitha kum!' which means, 'Little girl, I tell you to get up.' The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. At once they were overcome with astonishment, and he gave them strict orders not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.
Now there was a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years; after long and painful treatment under various doctors, she had spent all she had without being any the better for it; in fact, she was getting worse. She had heard about Jesus, and she came up through the crowd and touched his cloak from behind, thinking, 'If I can just touch his clothes, I shall be saved.'
And at once the source of the bleeding dried up, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint. And at once aware of the power that had gone out from him, Jesus turned round in the crowd and said, 'Who touched my clothes?' His disciples said to him, 'You see how the crowd is pressing round you; how can you ask, "Who touched me?"' But he continued to look all round to see who had done it. Then the woman came forward, frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her, and she fell at his feet and told him the whole truth. 'My daughter,' he said, 'your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free of your complaint.'
While he was still speaking some people arrived from the house of the president of the synagogue to say, 'Your daughter is dead; why put the Master to any further trouble?' But Jesus overheard what they said and he said to the president of the synagogue, 'Do not be afraid; only have faith.' And he allowed no one to go with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they came to the house of the president of the synagogue, and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. He went in and said to them, 'Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.' But they ridiculed him. So he turned them all out and, taking with him the child's father and mother and his own companions, he went into the place where the child lay. And taking the child by the hand he said to her, 'Talitha kum!' which means, 'Little girl, I tell you to get up.' The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. At once they were overcome with astonishment, and he gave them strict orders not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.
3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel, we meditate on two miracles which Jesus
worked in favour of two women. The first one for a woman who was considered
impure because of the haemorrhage which she was suffering from for the past 12
years. The other one, for a girl, twelve years old, who had expired a short
time before. According to the mentality of the time, anybody who would touch
the blood or a corpse was considered impure. Blood and death were factors of
exclusion! Because of this, those two women were marginalized persons, excluded
from the participation in the community.
• The starting point. Jesus arrives in the boat. The people join him. Jairus, the head of the Synagogue, asks help for his daughter who is dying. Jesus goes with him and the people accompany him, pushing on all sides. This is the starting point of the two cases of healing which follow: the cure of the woman and the resurrection of the 12 year old girl.
• The situation of the woman. Twelve years suffering from haemorrhage! For this reason she lived excluded, because at that time, blood rendered persons impure, and the one who touched them became impure also. Mark says that the woman had spent all she had with doctors. And instead of becoming better, she got worse. A situation without a solution!
• The attitude of the woman. She heard people speak about Jesus. Hope sprang in her. She told herself: “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be saved”. The catechism of the time said: “If I touch his cloak, he will become impure”. The woman thinks exactly the contrary! This is a sign that women did not agree with all this that religious authority taught. The woman gets in through the crowd, in the midst of the people, and without being noticed, she touches Jesus, because everybody touched him and pushed him. At that same moment she noticed in her body that she had been cured.
• The reaction of Jesus and that of the disciples. Jesus also aware of the power that had gone out from him asked: “Who touched my clothes?”. The disciples said to him: “You see how the crowd is pressing round you; how can you ask, who touched me?” So here appears the clash between Jesus and the disciples. Jesus had a sensibility which the disciples did not perceive. The disciples reacted like everybody else and they did not understand the different reaction of Jesus. But Jesus did not pay attention and continued to investigate, to inquire.
• Healing through faith. The woman became aware that she had been discovered. It was a difficult and dangerous moment for her. Because according to the belief of the time, an impure person, who like herself got in among the people, contaminated everyone who touched her. And all would become impure before God (Lv) (Lk 15, 19-30). For this reason the punishment was the possible stoning. But the woman had the courage to assume the consequences of what she had done. But the woman “frightened and trembling” fell at Jesus’ feet and told him the whole truth. Jesus says the last word: “My daughter, your faith has restored you to health, go in peace and be free of your complaint”.
(a) “Daughter”, with this word Jesus accepts the woman into the new family, into the community, which was gathering together around him. (b) What she thought became a reality. (c) Jesus acknowledges that without the faith of that woman, he would not have been able to work the miracle.
• The news of the death of the little girl. At that moment some people arrived from the house of Jairus to inform him that his daughter had died. It was no longer necessary to disturb Jesus. For them, death was the great barrier. Jesus will not be able to overcome death! Jesus listens, looks at Jairus, and applies what he had just seen, that is, that faith is capable to realize what the person believes. And he says: “Do not be afraid, only have faith!”
• In Jairus’ house. Jesus allows only three of his disciples to go with him. Seeing the commotion of the people weeping and wailing because of the death of the child, he said: “The child is not dead, she sleeps!” People around laughed . People know how to distinguish when a person is sleeping and when the person is dead. It is the same laughter of Abraham and of Sarah, that is of those who are unable to believe that nothing is impossible for God (Gn 17, 17; 18, 12-14; Lk 1, 37). For them also, death was a barrier which nobody could overcome, go beyond! The words of Jesus had a very profound meaning. The situation of the persecuted communities at the time of Mark seemed to be a situation of death. They had to hear: “She is not dead! You are sleeping! Wake up!” Jesus does not pay attention to the laughter and enters into the room where the child is, alone, with the three disciples and the parents of the child.
• The resurrection of the child. Jesus takes the child by the hand and says: “Talita kum!” She rises. Great commotion! Jesus keeps calm and asks that they give her something to eat. Two women are cured! One is twelve years old, of life, the other one twelve years of haemorrhage, twelve years of exclusion! The exclusion of the child begins at twelve years of age, because her menstruation begins, she begins to die! Jesus has the greatest power and resurrects: “Get up!”
• The starting point. Jesus arrives in the boat. The people join him. Jairus, the head of the Synagogue, asks help for his daughter who is dying. Jesus goes with him and the people accompany him, pushing on all sides. This is the starting point of the two cases of healing which follow: the cure of the woman and the resurrection of the 12 year old girl.
• The situation of the woman. Twelve years suffering from haemorrhage! For this reason she lived excluded, because at that time, blood rendered persons impure, and the one who touched them became impure also. Mark says that the woman had spent all she had with doctors. And instead of becoming better, she got worse. A situation without a solution!
• The attitude of the woman. She heard people speak about Jesus. Hope sprang in her. She told herself: “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be saved”. The catechism of the time said: “If I touch his cloak, he will become impure”. The woman thinks exactly the contrary! This is a sign that women did not agree with all this that religious authority taught. The woman gets in through the crowd, in the midst of the people, and without being noticed, she touches Jesus, because everybody touched him and pushed him. At that same moment she noticed in her body that she had been cured.
• The reaction of Jesus and that of the disciples. Jesus also aware of the power that had gone out from him asked: “Who touched my clothes?”. The disciples said to him: “You see how the crowd is pressing round you; how can you ask, who touched me?” So here appears the clash between Jesus and the disciples. Jesus had a sensibility which the disciples did not perceive. The disciples reacted like everybody else and they did not understand the different reaction of Jesus. But Jesus did not pay attention and continued to investigate, to inquire.
• Healing through faith. The woman became aware that she had been discovered. It was a difficult and dangerous moment for her. Because according to the belief of the time, an impure person, who like herself got in among the people, contaminated everyone who touched her. And all would become impure before God (Lv) (Lk 15, 19-30). For this reason the punishment was the possible stoning. But the woman had the courage to assume the consequences of what she had done. But the woman “frightened and trembling” fell at Jesus’ feet and told him the whole truth. Jesus says the last word: “My daughter, your faith has restored you to health, go in peace and be free of your complaint”.
(a) “Daughter”, with this word Jesus accepts the woman into the new family, into the community, which was gathering together around him. (b) What she thought became a reality. (c) Jesus acknowledges that without the faith of that woman, he would not have been able to work the miracle.
• The news of the death of the little girl. At that moment some people arrived from the house of Jairus to inform him that his daughter had died. It was no longer necessary to disturb Jesus. For them, death was the great barrier. Jesus will not be able to overcome death! Jesus listens, looks at Jairus, and applies what he had just seen, that is, that faith is capable to realize what the person believes. And he says: “Do not be afraid, only have faith!”
• In Jairus’ house. Jesus allows only three of his disciples to go with him. Seeing the commotion of the people weeping and wailing because of the death of the child, he said: “The child is not dead, she sleeps!” People around laughed . People know how to distinguish when a person is sleeping and when the person is dead. It is the same laughter of Abraham and of Sarah, that is of those who are unable to believe that nothing is impossible for God (Gn 17, 17; 18, 12-14; Lk 1, 37). For them also, death was a barrier which nobody could overcome, go beyond! The words of Jesus had a very profound meaning. The situation of the persecuted communities at the time of Mark seemed to be a situation of death. They had to hear: “She is not dead! You are sleeping! Wake up!” Jesus does not pay attention to the laughter and enters into the room where the child is, alone, with the three disciples and the parents of the child.
• The resurrection of the child. Jesus takes the child by the hand and says: “Talita kum!” She rises. Great commotion! Jesus keeps calm and asks that they give her something to eat. Two women are cured! One is twelve years old, of life, the other one twelve years of haemorrhage, twelve years of exclusion! The exclusion of the child begins at twelve years of age, because her menstruation begins, she begins to die! Jesus has the greatest power and resurrects: “Get up!”
4) Personal questions
• Which is the point in this text which pleased you or struck
you the most? Why?
• One of the women was cured and once again integrated so that she could live in the community. A child was raised from her death bed. What does this action of Jesus teach us for our life in the family and for our community today?
• One of the women was cured and once again integrated so that she could live in the community. A child was raised from her death bed. What does this action of Jesus teach us for our life in the family and for our community today?
5) Concluding Prayer
Of you is my praise in the thronged assembly,
I will perform my vows before all who fear him.
The poor will eat and be filled,
those who seek Yahweh will praise him,
'May your heart live for ever.' (Ps 22,25-26)
I will perform my vows before all who fear him.
The poor will eat and be filled,
those who seek Yahweh will praise him,
'May your heart live for ever.' (Ps 22,25-26)
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