Mark 5:21-43

2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30-19:3

Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

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.

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.

Opening Prayer: Lord, the reality of death surrounds me. I have loved ones, family, and friends, who have passed away. The day of my death always approaches. Help me to prepare for a holy death. Be at my side always.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Absalom’s Rebellion and Death: The Second Book of Samuel tells us that David failed to punish his son, Absalom, for killing Amnon, David’s firstborn son. Things got worse when Absalom mounted a rebellion against his father and proclaimed himself king. David was somewhat slow to respond but eventually mustered his army, attacked Absalom’s troops, and defeated the rebellion. When Absalom realized he was going to lose, he fled the battle but was caught by his hair in a tree. One of David’s mighty men, Joab, defied David’s orders not to harm Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5) and killed Absalom. The irony here is that Absalom’s long and beautiful hair was a source of his pride but was also the cause of his downfall.

2. Absalom and Judas: The death of Absalom prefigures the death of Judas: just as Absalom lifted his hand against David, the Lord’s anointed, and died suspended from a tree, so also Judas, who lifted his hand against Jesus, the Lord’s anointed, and died suspended from a tree. David’s response to his son’s death manifests the love of God who loves even those who rebel and reject him. David is the model of a pastor who grieves over the suffering of his flock and desires to take their suffering upon himself. We can imagine how Jesus grieved the loss of Judas, his Apostle and friend, who gave into despair rather than seek the mercy of God.

3. Jesus Restores Jairus’ Daughter to Life: Mark narrates how Jesus brought Jairus’ daughter back to life. Sandwiched in the story is the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage. Jesus tells the woman that her faith saved and healed her. Jesus exhorts Jairus to not be afraid and to have faith. The two stories, then, are invitations to faith, but also manifest the deep human desire to be freed from sickness and delivered from death. The way Mark narrates the story of Jairus shows especially how Jairus is invited to go deeper in his faith. In the first part of the story, Jairus believes that Jesus has healing power. In the second part, Jairus is asked to believe that Jesus can conquer death. We are called to imitate Jairus’ growth in faith.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you restored the daughter of Jairus to life. I believe and trust that you can heal me and that one day you will raise me to eternal life with you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit. Increase my faith! I will strive to be faithful to you and follow the guidance of your Holy Spirit.

Resolution: As Christians who believe in Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, we know that death is not the final word. Human death is often marked by sadness and suffering. And it is right to mourn the passing of our loved ones. Yet, seen with eyes of faith, we know that the moment of death is our definitive encounter with our merciful God. At our death, we will find ourselves before the Lord, who created us out of love and redeemed us by sending his only Son. At the moment of our death, everything we have done will be revealed and every intention of our hearts will be laid bare. If I were to die today, how would I be judged by God? What changes do I need to make today to prepare for that judgment?