The synagogue official, Jairus, approached Jesus pleading, “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 and pressed upon 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.” “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.” Meanwhile, officials arrived for Jairus saying, “Your daughter has died.” Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He went to the child, “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.”
Faith can sometimes be misunderstood as referring to ideas or to dogmas. For example, congregants may recite creeds in church settings, such as the Apostle’s Creed. Do we have faith in ideas? What ideas; needing to be saved, that all men are created equal? Do we have faith in people? Which people; politicians, Jesus, the human family? Both faithful people in the Gospel story had faith in healing and in Jesus’ ability to heal. It is their faith that moves them. They commit. They come forward, stepping out of the background into prominence to put their faith into action. They commit to having their faith in action joined with the faith in action of another, Jesus. They all know their commitment to healing brings justified concern for their well-being. Both the woman with the flow of blood and the synagogue official are violating social customs and indeed laws. Yet they act. They commit. They do what think is best to make healing happen. Jesus is acting courageously as well by being in touch with a bleeding woman and dead girl. Moses’ Law never provided for the people the healing Jesus provided. Neither did Roman Law. Both the bleeding woman and pleading father took a step away from the control that was inhibiting them. They did not act on behalf of preserving or restoring a Temple, an empire, their institutions or rulers. They committed to communion with a power that could free them, heal them. Both were stepping into a different Spirit for life. Are we?
“Your faith is rarely where your head is at and rarely where your heart is at. Your faith is where your ass is at! Inside what commitments are you sitting? Within what reality do you anchor yourself?” (Daniel Berrigan)
Prayer: Beautiful Spirit, heal me.
Question: What is my prime commitment compelling me forward?
June 30, 2024 Gospel Mark 5:21-43 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time