In today’s Gospel we read a well-known miracle story of Jesus, in which a synagogue official approaches Jesus to ask for his healing upon his daughter. This shirt reflection recalls four aspects of the story.
The first is the synagogue official’s absolute confidence that Jesus would help. His urgency of mind, spurred on by his daughter’s condition, inspired him to ask Jesus to come, in other words to divert both his attention and his plans. When we are beset with problems, when the catastrophic happens to us, to whom do we turn? And not just in those most awful moments but in all of our daily life: who is our guide and shield? Who do we look to for support? Our reaction to Christ’s love for us should be absolute trust. Do we afford him this gift from our hearts?
Jesus answered, and he went with the man, and this is the second point. In prayer we may feel like we are not being listened to, we may think that our efforts are useless. But no: if we ask, Jesus will provide. How often do we feel that it is pointless to ask for God’s graces, if we do not sense an immediate response? And yet, by our very baptism, we are given those gifts.
Christianity works in the face of ridicule, yet the Gospel is nothing if not a catalogue of incredibly unlikely events, a storehouse of inspiration for those who have given up on goodness. And this is the third point: Jesus performed hisnact of great goodness in the face of ridicule, and made a most unlikely event into a thing of wonder, of astonishment and joy. He did not care about the ridicule, only the love. Christ can reach into the very worst parts of human existence and transform death into life, darkness into light, sadness into joy.
And yet, the genesis of this miracle rests up the simple trust of someone like us: someone who has heard of Christ’s wonders and petitions him for help. Had that not happened, the girl would not be healed. And this leads to the fourth point: That the miracle in today’s Gospel started with the brokenness of a person in need. We see Jesus as the miracle worker, which he is, but were it not for his great love for us, there would be no miracles. Let us be thankful, today, for the love of Christ which reaches into our own brokenness, Waiting for us to ask for restoration. May we, like the Synagogue Official, live in certainty of the hope of Jesus’ goodness.
The Lord be with you
And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 5:21-43
Glory to you, O Lord.
When Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lakeside. Then, one of the synagogue officials came up, Jairus by name, and seeing him, fell at his feet and pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is desperately sick. Come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.’
Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him.
Some people arrived from the house of the synagogue official to say,
‘Your daughter is dead: why put the Master to any further trouble?‘
But Jesus had overheard this remark of theirs and he said to the official, ‘
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 official’s house 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 laughed at 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 this they were overcome with astonishment, and he ordered them strictly not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.