"Do not be afraid; just have faith."

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

"Do not be afraid; just have faith."

Gospel Reading: Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "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. 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 but only grew worse. 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. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?" But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?" And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?" Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith." He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep." And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He 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. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of two different miracles; Jairus’ daughter is brought back to life and the curing of the woman with a hemorrhage. The reading starts out with Jesus arriving at the shore and being greeted by the crowds. Jairus, the Jewish leader of the local synagogue, greets Jesus begging him to come help his daughter who is dying. He says that if only Jesus would touch her she would be healed. On his way to see the girl, a woman reaches out to touch Jesus. This woman had a “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 but only grew worse” She thought, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” She reaches out and “immediately her flow of blood dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.” During this time, a person comes out from Jairus’ house informing them that his daughter has died, “why trouble the teacher any longer?” Jesus simply responds, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” Again, the life of Jairus’ daughter was restored. Both Jairus and the woman express unbelievable faith and a desire for God to enter more fully into their lives. They reached out and touched Christ with unconditional faith and their prayers were answered. They were healed of their affliction.

This story exemplifies God’s omnipotence, for only a miracle can cure these two women. These people tried everything humanly possible to overcome these inflictions, but only through the power of Christ were they healed. We as Christians should also expect Christ to help us overcome the obstacles in our lives which prevent us from our sanctification. We are attacked from Satan from so many directions. Things are placed in front of us to tempt us. Satan cannot force us to turn from God. It is only by the nature of free will that we do so. He places desires of the flesh and mind to trick us into falling away from his grace. He creates disorder in our lives so we lose focus on the Kingdom of Heaven. In this reading we are given hope that God’s love will save us and bring us fully into eternal life. These afflictions which torment us should be offered up to God. Unlike the people at the time of Christ, we can encounter Christ daily in the Sacraments and in the Word. We can encounter Christ anytime we want. All we need to do is reach out. We can receive the Sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation every day. These are the sacraments of nourishment and healing. We can read the Word of God and be filled with wisdom and understanding. Christ tells us to “just have faith” as he tells us to “arise” and get up.

A Simple Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the healer.

You cure my afflictions and free me from the bonds of Satan

You give me hope of life eternal.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon