Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word among Us” Tuesday, 4 February
2014
Meditations: Mark 5: A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat[a] to the other
side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 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 hemorrhages 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, 28 for she said, “If I
but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her hemorrhage
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 around 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[b] 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.
Footnotes:
a. Mark 5:21 Other ancient authorities lack in the boat
b. Mark 5:36 Or ignoring; other ancient authorities read hearing
4th Week in Ordinary Time
Please, come. (Mark 5:23)
Our hearts go out to the fathers we see in today’s readings
because of the pain they must have experienced. In the first reading, David is
sent reeling after he gets word that his son Absalom has been killed. And in
Mark’s Gospel, Jairus throws himself at Jesus’ feet, begging him to heal his
dying daughter.
Every parent wants the best for his or her children. When the
children are doing well, fathers rejoice, and mothers give thanks for God’s
blessings. But we all know that life is never perfect. Children’s lives can get
messy, cracked, or just plain broken. And from time to time, every parent
experiences heartbreak over their children’s suffering. Sometimes it’s because
of a child’s illness or difficult life circumstances, as in Jairus’ case. At
other times, it’s the way a child’s choices have exposed him or her to needless
heartache and peril, as happened with Absalom. Every parent knows what it’s
like to turn to the Lord and plead, “Please, come” (Mark 5:23).
The good news is that God always comes. He is our Father, and he
knows what it’s like for a parent’s heart to be broken. If you have children,
let Jairus be your model: run to God! Run to Jesus in prayer, and lay your
children at his feet every day. Intercede for them. Ask him for wisdom. Ask him
to make you strong and loving, patient and compassionate. Reach out and touch
him, as the woman did who touched his cloak. Believe that as you do, Jesus’
power will be released into you and into your family.
God wants all of you who are parents to know that you don’t have
to fulfill your role all by yourselves. In fact, he is more invested in your
children than you are! His love for them is deep, strong, and everlasting.
Imagine how tenderly Jesus took the hand of Jairus’ little girl as he raised
her from death. He sees you and your family with that same tenderness of heart.
So take comfort in the knowledge that you and your children are in his strong,
gentle hands.
“Jesus, I bring my family before you right now. Please come, and
release your healing love and grace into our lives.” Amen!
2 Samuel 18: 9 Absalom happened to meet the servants of David.
Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a
great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging[a] between
heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. 10 A man saw it,
and told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
Footnotes:
a. 2 Samuel 18:9 Gk Syr Tg: Heb was put
14 Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” He
took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while
he was still alive in the oak.
24 Now David was sitting between the two gates. The sentinel
went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he looked up, he saw a
man running alone. 25 The sentinel shouted and told the king. The king said,
“If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth.” He kept coming, and drew
near.
30 The king said, “Turn aside, and stand here.” So he turned
aside, and stood still.
31 Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings
for my lord the king! For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you
from the power of all who rose up against you.” 32 The king said to the
Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May
the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like
that young man.”
David Mourns for Absalom
33 [a] The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber
over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my
son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
19: It was told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for
Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the
troops; for the troops heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3
The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed
when they flee in battle.
Footnotes:
a. 2 Samuel 18:33 Ch 19.1 in Heb
Psalm 86: Supplication for Help against Enemies
A Prayer of David.
1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and
needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you;
save your servant who
trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry
all day long.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, I
lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast
love to all who call on you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my cry of
supplication.
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