Gospel: January 30, 2024
January 30, 2024 (Tuesday)
4th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 4 / (Green)
Responsorial Psalm: 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: 3Gospel: Mk 5:21-43Jesus 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:“Recognizing our brokenness”
Jesus is our healer and life-giver. Sickness and death are realities that represent brokenness. Jesus’ authority can restore to wholeness whatever is broken. In the Bible, the number 12 connotes perfection and also carries the meaning of authority like in the case of Jacob over his 12 sons and of Jesus over the 12 disciples. Today’s Gospel narrates the healing of a woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years and the raising back to life of the 12-year-old daughter of Jairus. On the one hand, the woman with hemorrhage for 12 years actively did something that led to her healing. On the other hand, the 12-year-old girl was a passive beneficiary. These two miracles depict Jesus’ power over sickness and death. Jesus’ authority brings wholeness to whoever needs it, whether one actively participates in the healing process or is a mere passive recipient of the miracle. In our journey of faith, there are times when we have to face these realities of sickness and death. When confronted with these realities, we turn to Jesus’ authority. Nonetheless, we first need to recognize our brokenness so that we may, in faith, ask Jesus to make us whole again.
