Gospel: February 3, 2026
February 3, 2026 (Tuesday)
4th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 4 (Green/Red/White)
St. Blase, bishop & martyr St. Ansgar, bishop
Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Listen, Lord, and answer me.
1st Reading: 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24, 25a, 30–19:3
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43
Jesus then crossed to the other side of the lake; and while he was still on the shore, a large crowd gathered around
him. Jairus, an official of the synagogue, came up and, seeing Jesus, threw himself at his feet; and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may get well and live.”
Jesus went with him, and many people followed, pressing around him. Among the crowd was a woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years. She had suffered a lot at the hands of many doctors and had spent everything she had, but instead of getting better, she was worse. Because she had heard about Jesus, this woman came up behind him and touched his cloak, thinking, “If I just touch his clothing, I shall get well.” Her flow of blood dried up at once, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her complaint.
But Jesus was conscious that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples answered, “You see how the people are crowding around you. Why do you ask who touched you?” But he kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, aware of what had happened, came forward, trembling and afraid. She knelt before him, and told him the whole truth.
Then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be free of this illness.”While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from the official’s house to inform him, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Master any further?” But Jesus ignored what they said, and told the official, “Do not fear, just believe.” And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house, Jesus saw a great commotion, with people weeping and wailing loudly. Jesus entered, and said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”
They laughed at him. So Jesus sent them outside, and went with the child’s father and mother and his companions into the room, where the child lay. Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha kumi!” which means, “Little girl, get up!” The girl got up at once and began to walk around. (She was 12 years old.) The parents were amazed, greatly amazed. Jesus strictly ordered them not to let anyone know about it; and he told them to give her something to eat.
Reflection:
Deep faith and trust in the Lord.
Two types of suffering confront Jesus today: the despair of Jairus, who is on the verge of losing his teenage daughter, and the fear of the woman who has endured years of anguish due to a hemorrhage. The woman understands that touching Jesus will break a specific rule for the Jews. Nevertheless, she proceeds to do it and gets healed. Jesus, sensing that something has occurred, asks his disciples for an explanation.
Jesus, through the evangelist, teaches us that deep faith and trust in the Lord can bring good into one’s life. Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage demonstrate a kind of faith that can lead to the fulfillment of our prayers and offer comfort amidst our sufferings. We, too, can approach Jesus countless times, but only when we have faith in Him can those encounters truly change and renew us.
Today, let us ask the Lord to awaken a deep faith in Him, heal us from every disease, and entrust those in mourning and burdened with illnesses to Him.
