Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 30, 2024

Date:  Tuesday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  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.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel text from Mark recounts Jesus’ healing of the daughter of Jairus and of the woman with hemorrhages. The healings depended upon the faith of the one seeking the healing: Jairus and the woman in the crowd. Both sought Jesus out; both believed wholly in Jesus’ ability to heal, both had faith. The faith of Jairus that Jesus could not only heal but raise and restore was rewarded by the return of his daughter to life.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I bring my physical needs to the LORD and seek healing through the name of Jesus? Do I have the faith of Jairus when things appear “lost”? Do I have the faith of the woman who knows that just closeness to Christ is healing? Do I have her courage and reach out?

Praying:

LORD, Jesus Christ, You came among us for love of the Father and love of us. You are the “door,” inviting us into deeper and greater relationship. At your ascension after your death and resurrection, You promised us that You will be with us always. Send your Spirit to fan the fires of your love within us and to strengthen our resolve to come to You in our need, knowing your great love for us. Heal us, LORD, of our weaknesses and strengthen our faith and make of us true and believing disciples, this day and all days. Amen.