Mark 5:21-43
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.’ 24 So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ 29 Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ 31 And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ 32 He looked all round to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
According to the four Evangelists, Capernaum, the second home of Jesus (after Nazareth), could be known as "Jesus’s hospital.” If you’ve been there, remember, or come and see this ancient town of ruins where Jesus accomplished most of His miracles and teaching throughout His ministry in Galilee.
Walk on the seashore, next to Peter's house, near the milestone, the winepress and the oil press, stand inside the old synagogue, in front of the Roman military camp, see the streets of the poor and middle class residential areas. Bring alive the gospel in context!
Let us walk it with Jesus from the seaside to the house of the chief priest, who came asking Jesus to heal his daughter. Asking Jesus to heal the daughter proves that the priests recognized Jesus’s power and authority, but didn't accept Him as the son of God the Father. Their hearts were with Him but their tongues were against Him.
On the way to his house, the priest is told that his daughter has died, which means no more hope. It’s needless to ask Jesus to enter his home. Jesus, through this priest, gives us the recipe: Faith does not disappoint. “Do not fear, only believe" v. 36b. Keep faith!
On the way again, surrounded by the crowd, a woman suffering from a serious disease, in despair and desperate health and wealth tribulations, defied all social and even biblical ordinances. She had great faith in Jesus the healer, came discretely, touched the edge of his cloak and enjoyed immediate recovery!
“Who touched me?” asked Jesus. He wanted to praise the woman's faith and to confirm that nothing may be done without His knowledge and power.
A mural from the Encounter Chapel at Duc In Altum, Magdala, Israel.
Then Jesus brings Talitha to life, showing that He has power over life and death.
Both the leader of the synagogue and the diseased lady came to Jesus in their extreme need and desperate situations.
Both had faith that He has the power and the authority to respond to their needs.
Both had their hope preserved and boosted by faith.
Both touched Jesus by their faith.
Both needed to restart a new, healthy life for themselves and for their families.
Both obtained what they were looking for, thanks to Jesus’s love, mercy and power!
St. Mark invites us to think about Jesus responding to all those who have faith, even if they don't yet know him as the son of God, or even object to his ministry. They are all God's creatures and all are called "to come to the full knowledge of the truth through Christ and be saved" 1 Timothy 2:4.
As in many other cases, Jesus is not asking but strictly ordering the people who witnessed both miracles, not to tell (verse 43a). This is the whole mystery of Jesus’s ministry. He is willing to be accepted as the the Messiah of God, not because of His powers of healing, feeding, teaching and preaching, but because of His Cross, by which He redeemed and saved humanity. He is the “power of God and the wisdom of God” 1 Corinthians 1:24.
This Sunday's Gospel continues, as on the preceding two Sundays, to invite us to think about the depth of our faith. How and when we return to Jesus, is it just in need or as a friend, master and Lord who walks the road with us? May we hear Him strengthening our faith and our hope. "Have no fear, just have faith!"
In our time, Faith and Hope are most needed. Are we aware of Jesus’s Presence and Care for us? Through our witness, may we help others to feel His Presence and care as well?
Happy are those who, like the leader of the Synagogue and the suffering woman, return to Jesus with full trust and deep faith. Those who touched the edge of His cloak were healed. How much more may happen to those who, with faith and dignity, eat His Body and drink His blood. Now that we are saved by the Cross and celebrate His resurrection through Holy Communion, we can tell about His powerful signs.
—Fr. Kamal