Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Gospel B

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." 

· It is obvious the girl is dying and to Jairus Jesus is his last hope. He must have heard or seen the power of Jesus already.  Do we sometimes wait until the last moment before calling upon Jesus?

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. 

· Mark often times interrupts one story and inserts another that is connected.

· Her hemorrhage made her ritually unclean according to the belief of the Jewish people who followed the Law. That meant she could not go into the Temple without first be ritually washed.

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." 

                   She too had “heard” about Jesus. In her unworthiness she sought just  

                   to touch his garments            

! Even the act of touching Jesus’ garment would technically make Jesus ritually unclean.

! It is not enough to be in the presence of Jesus or even to touch him. The faith of the woman made the difference.

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." 

! Why did Jesus make a such a scene? Was it because he wanted the woman to publicly attest to the healing she had received from God? Do we give such a witness when Jesus moves in our lives? The healing was not for the woman only, but as will see, for the crowd but especially for Jairus.

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?" 

! Imagine that you were the father of the girl and received such a message, what would you feel at the moment?

Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith." 

      In other words, recall the healing of the woman and have the same 

      faith.

! Where and when has Jesus said the same thing to you?

He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 

! Why do you think Jesus did this? He is not looking for the approval of the crowd. He only wants to do the work of his Father.

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. 

! Here Mark contrasts the faith of the woman who was healed and the people pressing upon Jesus as well as the faith of Jairus against the lack of faith of the weeping crowd.

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. 

! It was not the faith of the child that brought the healing but the faith of the parents. What does this say to you?

! How strong is your faith in the person and power of Jesus in times of difficulties?

! What is God asking of you as you reflect on this passage?