Gospel: February 4, 2025
February 4, 2025 (Tuesday)
4th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Ps 22:26b-27, 28 & 30, 31-32
They will praise you, Lord who long for you.
1st Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4
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:
“Do not fear, just believe.”
Jairus and the sick woman present us with a strength of faith and a persistence, even when it seems pointless to everyone else, which encourage us to “persevere in running the race marked out before us.” Life is not a short sprint, but a long-distance run, which, along with its joys, also tests endurance at the hard stages. Can we keep going? There might be moments of despair in times of sorrow or failure, when we are crowded and hemmed in by thoughts which discourage us. And yet, Christ is still with us. He stands in the middle of the crowd of worries and fears all jostling for our attention. Dare we reach out to him? Dare we hope in him, even when the voices of our thoughts tell us that it’s a lost cause, like Jairus’ daughter? “Why trouble the Master any further?” We are not to grow discouraged. Rather, we are to redouble our efforts to get close to Jesus, throwing ourselves at his feet in prayer, reaching out to touch even the hem of his clothes in faith, and beg his help. Then Jesus will turn to us and say, “Do not fear, just believe.”
