FOR SUNDAY 06.30
When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So, Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this and told them to give her something to eat.
MARK 5, 21-43 (NIV)
Let's imagine that life is a journey. A journey full of surprises, ups and downs, but above all, relationships that give it meaning. When we lose someone close, someone with whom we shared our days, the heart breaks, and the soul seems to bleed. Well, at such a moment, our hearts beat together with Jairus from the Gospel of Mark. Jairus was a synagogue leader, and in desperation and pain at the impending death of his sick daughter, he runs to Jesus, begging for a miracle. Let's think about it - in times when everything around us tells us that hope is an illusion, can we, like Jairus, believe in a miracle?
Now, let’s transport ourselves to the story of the woman suffering from bleeding. Twelve years of torment, rejection, and isolation. And suddenly, a thought appears: "If only I touch Jesus' robe, I will be healed." Imagine how unreal and absurd this must have seemed to her acquaintances. But she believes and touches the hem of Jesus' robe. Perhaps this is a clue for us? Maybe in moments when our marriages and relationships are dying, instead of succumbing to despair, we should try the same madness of faith? Isn't the courage to believe in a miracle precisely what we need?
When our spouse leaves us, we begin to feel a whole range of emotions. First, there is shock and disbelief. "It's impossible!" we scream inwardly. As if we are trying to convince ourselves that it's just a nightmare from which we will soon wake up. And then comes anger. Anger at ourselves, at others, and maybe even at God. Jairus could have shouted at Jesus: "Why did you delay? If you had come earlier, my daughter would be alive!" It’s so human and so understandable.
Next, we try to fix what seems irreparably broken. We negotiate with fate, with God, with ourselves. "Maybe if I do this or that, I will manage to regain what I lost." But often these attempts end in failure, and we fall into even deeper depression and sorrow. Jairus could have doubted and given up. But no - he holds onto hope.
And finally, after a long, painful process, acceptance comes. We begin to see that life goes on, that we must find a way to survive. Jairus sees the fruits of his faith. Jesus raises his daughter, and he realizes that there is always hope, even when everything seems lost.
Let's remember Jesus' words to Jairus: "Do not be afraid; just believe." How often in our lives do we give up the fight before it even begins? How often do we surrender to doubts when our relationship is in crisis? And what if, in those moments, God is calling us to faith? To the same faith that allows us to touch His robe and experience healing?
Aren't our relationships, our loves, like Jairus' daughter, who seems dead but awakens at Jesus' voice? Maybe this is the moment to say to God: "Here is our relationship, we entrust it to You. Perform a miracle with it that we cannot achieve on our own." Jesus says today: "Talitha koum" - "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" This call is directed at us, at our dying relationships. It is a call to rise from the ashes, to start living, believing, and loving again.
Our faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains. It can restore hope where there is none. It can heal hearts that are bleeding. Faith is like the touch of Jesus - healing and powerful. And even if the whole world tells us, it's impossible, even if we ourselves doubt, let's remember: for God, nothing is impossible. Let's touch the hem of His robe, entrust Him with our hearts and our relationships, and we will see miracles that are hard for us to even imagine.
May God bless us all.
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