Gospel of the Day

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark 5:21–43

At that time, Jesus crossed to the other side of the sea by boat, and a large crowd gathered around him while he remained by the shore. Then one of the rulers of the synagogue, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly:
‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be healed and live.’
So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed, pressing in on him.
Now, there was a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all she had, yet she only grew worse. Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, thinking,
‘If I only touch his cloak, I shall be healed.’
Immediately, the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Jesus, aware that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my cloak?’
His disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing upon you, and yet you ask, “Who touched me?”’
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, fearful and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came forward, fell at his feet, and told him the whole truth.
Jesus said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be freed from your illness.’
While he was still speaking, people arrived from Jairus’ house and said, ‘Your daughter has died. Why trouble the Master any further?’
But Jesus overheard what they said and told the synagogue ruler, ‘Do not fear; only believe.’
He allowed no one to accompany him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at Jairus’ house, Jesus saw a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. He entered and said to them,
‘Why all this noise and weeping? The child is not dead; she is only asleep.’
And they laughed at him. But after sending them all outside, he took the child’s father and mother, and those who were with him, and went into where the child was. Taking her by the hand, he said to her,
‘Talitha cumi’ (which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’)
Immediately, the girl got up and began to walk about—she was twelve years old. At this, they were utterly astonished.
Jesus strictly ordered them not to let anyone know about this, and he told them to give her something to eat.

The Miracles of Jesus

Jesus does not want a distant relationship with us. This is why he asks who has touched his cloak—so that he can look her in the eyes and tell her that her faith has saved her. This is why he does not want a noisy crowd around Jairus’ daughter. He wants to take her by the hand and raise her, holding her tenderly.
Now, I want to close my eyes and imagine Jesus coming near, taking my hand with love, and saying to me: ‘Your faith has saved you.’
Hey! What are you doing reading this? Have you closed your eyes and imagined Jesus holding your hand? If not, take five minutes to do so before continuing in prayer.

Applying It to Married Life

Lola: Jose, what a wonderful marriage we have—where we look at each other, hold hands, walk arm in arm, you caress me, I caress you… We spent so many years distant from each other. Tenderness is so important in a marriage.
Jose: Well, we were stuck for a while, each of us living a bit separately, but how beautiful this Project has been, bringing us together and helping us express our love in new ways.
Lola: And seeing your parents, your sister, and our brother-in-law starting down the same path—what a blessing, isn’t it?
Jose: Yes! I love that my family has also joined this journey of Proyecto Amor Conyugal. This is not just a marital conversion; it is a family conversion. These are the miracles of Our Lady, the miracles of Jesus in married and family life.

Mother,

How important tenderness is between spouses. May we never lack it. Praise be to the Lord, who draws near and touches our hearts.