“Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher any longer?” (Mk 5:35)

“Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher any longer?” (Mk 5:35) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 5:21-43; Heb 12:1-4

Meditation: Today’s passage actually is about the twin miracle narrative of the healing the woman who suffered from severe bleeding and rising of Jairus’ daughter. A lot are there to reflect upon these two miracles; like the faith of both the woman and Jairus, the disbelief of those who follow Jesus etc. However, we would like to focus on Jesus response to announcement of the news brought by the messengers came from Jairus’ house. “Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher any longer?” (Mk 5:35)

We know from the narrative that how much, Jairus longed for the cure of his little daughter. Though he is the local official of the Synagogue, he was there on the queue to meet Jesus at the earliest on the lake-shore. On seeing Jesus he threw himself down at his feet and begged him earnestly for his daughter who is on the verge of death. We find Jesus immediately answer to his prayer and goes with him. On his way the messengers convey today’s meditation verse.

What does this question tell us today in our life situation? I do believe that we often hear this type of bad messages often in our life; especially in our faith/religious life. We do believe in the promises of Christ and try to build up our life accordingly. And just like the Synagogue official we too walk with him in our daily life trusting him completely. Our pious and sacramental life, daily bible reading, study, meditation, charity works etc, naturally manifest our faith in Jesus.

All of a sudden we hear something against our hope as in the case of Jairus. Nowadays hearing of such news has become more common; may be through the media or through our own friends. How do we react to such news? Of course, these are the moments where we may be tempted to lose our faith in Jesus. Nevertheless, Jesus invites us today to heed always to his words and believe in his promise. The one along with whom I am walking is Jesus Christ and for whom nothing is impossible.

Now it is for me to decide that to whose words I should listen to; whether to the dead words of the world or to the living words of Jesus Christ my Savior. There are people who did hearken to the liars or Satan as in the garden of Eden, but let us not forget to see what the second reading has to say on this. “As for us, we have large crowd of witnesses round us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.” (Heb 12:1, 2)  

  

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Lord, we do remember that how Adam and Eve lost paradise; yet, when we are tempted and tested in our daily life situations we listen more to the ancient serpent and liar than your eternal living words. Have mercy on us, sinners. Guide us each moment of our life through your Holy Spirit. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blissful Tuesday!