Mark 5:21–43
When
Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered
round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue
named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 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.” So he went with him. And
a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had
been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under
many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but
rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the
crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will
be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body
that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth
from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”
And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can
you say, Who touched me?” He looked all round to see who had done it. But the
woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down
before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith
has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 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?” But overhearing what they said,
Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He
allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of
James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a
commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to
them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but
sleeping.” 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. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means,
“Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about
(she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He
strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her
something to eat.
Reflection
Can
I throughout keep my focus on Jesus, becoming aware of his deep compassion as
well as of his healing power?
Can
I become a tender and healing presence to those around me?