Jairus’s daughter and the woman with a hemorrhage

Gospel Reading: Mk 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 (Jesus) 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 12 years. 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.

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.” 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 12, rose 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.

Reflection LAY YOUR HANDS ON HER

The two miracles that intertwine (Jairus’s daughter brought back to life and the hemorrhaging woman healed) show, on the one hand, the mercy and the power of Jesus and, on the other hand, the power of faith and trust in his capacity to heal and save.

Both Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman show by their actions how much they believe that Jesus has the power to respond to their needs. Both are desperate and with no one to turn to – until Jesus comes and opens the door of hope. Singularly remarkable is the determined faith of the hemorrhaging woman who manages to negotiate through the multitude and aims only to touch Jesus’ garments. This is in contrast to the people’s lack of faith: They see only death and try to prevent Jesus from further intervention in Jairus’s daughter’s case, and they consider the woman’s affliction as hopeless.

* * * SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@ stpauls.ph; Website: http://www. stpauls.ph.