From the Gospel according to 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.
In this passage we can contemplate two events or miracles, but they are united by one thing: faith. First, the woman suffering from hemorrhages, who “only” wanted to touch the cloak. She believed in Jesus and trusted in His healing power. Second, Jairus, who went in search of Jesus because he knew that only He could bring about the healing of his daughter.
For our faith to be effective and for us not to succumb to temptation, it is necessary to be very close to the Lord: to go out to meet Him, to want to touch His cloak, to let Him take us by the hand. But… how is this done? By being in the presence of God through the Eucharist, through prayer. Let us make the Lord present in our marriage so that He may heal everything we are not capable of healing ourselves, of forgiving everything that keeps us from moving forward. But most importantly, we must believe that He makes it possible.
God is our Father, and it greatly pleases Him when we ask Him for help; He longs for us to ask Him. That is why He asks who touched His cloak, because He does not want us to come from behind or to feel ashamed, but rather to draw near to Him to ask for His help, to look Him in the eyes and speak to Him face to face.
Albert: Niahm, for this upcoming retreat we’ve been entrusted with a series of tasks that I think we won’t be able to carry out… we’re not prepared; I think certain skills are required that we just don’t have.
Niahm: You’re right Albert, I was thinking the same thing.
Albert: So, do you think we should tell them it would be better to look for another couple to do them?
Niahm: Let’s do something better: this afternoon let’s go before the Blessed Sacrament and tell Jesus about it. We’ll tell Him what He already knows that we’re imperfect, that we’re not capable, and that we place in His hands whether or not all this gets done, which has been entrusted to us.
(After the retreat, having completed all the tasks)
Albert: You were so right Niahm! It’s been a miracle! Did you see how well everything turned out? Despite our clumsiness and our weakness, the fruits have been impressive. Truly, there’s nothing like going forward in faith and abandoning oneself into the hands of the Lord so that He may do His work.
How fortunate we are to be able to rely on and always trust in the Lord, just as You did.
May He be blessed and praised forever!
