The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to express gratitude for the events of our journey in which we experienced the healing power of generous love.
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims the example of Jesus.
* [12:1–13] Christian life is to be inspired not only by the Old Testament men and women of faith (Heb 12:1) but above all by Jesus. As the architect of Christian faith, he had himself to endure the cross before receiving the glory of his triumph (Heb 12:2). Reflection on his sufferings should give his followers courage to continue the struggle, if necessary even to the shedding of blood (Heb 12:3–4). Christians should regard their own sufferings as the affectionate correction of the Lord, who loves them as a father loves his children. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)
Psalm 22 is a plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility.
* [Psalm 22] A lament unusual in structure and in intensity of feeling. The psalmist’s present distress is contrasted with God’s past mercy in Ps 22:2–12. In Ps 22:13–22 enemies surround the psalmist. The last third is an invitation to praise God (Ps 22:23–27), becoming a universal chorus of praise (Ps 22:28–31). The Psalm is important in the New Testament. Its opening words occur on the lips of the crucified Jesus (Mk 15:34; Mt 27:46), and several other verses are quoted, or at least alluded to, in the accounts of Jesus’ passion (Mt 27:35, 43; Jn 19:24). (Psalms, PSALM 22, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, a girl is restored to life and a woman is healed.
* [5:28] Both in the case of Jairus and his daughter (Mk 5:23) and in the case of the hemorrhage victim, the inner conviction that physical contact (Mk 5:30) accompanied by faith in Jesus’ saving power could effect a cure was rewarded.
* [5:35] The faith of Jairus was put to a twofold test: (1) that his daughter might be cured and, now that she had died, (2) that she might be restored to life. His faith contrasts with the lack of faith of the crowd.
* [5:39] Not dead but asleep: the New Testament often refers to death as sleep (Mt 27:52; Jn 11:11; 1 Cor 15:6; 1 Thes 4:13–15); see note on Mt 9:24. (Mark, CHAPTER 5, n.d.)
Andy Alexander, S.J. asks wouldn't it be wonderful if you and I could turn to Jesus this readily, in our needs?
There are so many of us, around the world, with so many needs that his touch can really heal. At the very least, he can heal our doubts and fears, our dependencies on other stuff, our angers, our hurts, our judgments, our pride. Maybe, in this renewal of faith, we can just turn his direction and reach out for him. Maybe a loved one has gone to get him, in some way, to bring him to us, and it doesn't matter what obstacles lie in the way. Jesus wants to be with us.
And, for the many of us who have asked for healing and have not received what we have asked for, our faith invites us to place our trust in the power that will flow out of him to us, as we keep our trust in him. (Alexander, 2021)
Don Schwager quotes “The long-suffering of parents,” by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD).
"Let us, if it is pleasing to you, speak for a moment of the pains and anxieties which parents take upon themselves and endure in patience out of love and affection for their children. Here, surrounded by her family and by the sympathy and affection of her relations, a daughter lies upon her bed of suffering. She is fading in body. Her father's mind and spirit are worn with grief. She is suffering the inward pangs of her sickness. He, unwashed, unkempt, is absorbed wholly in sorrow. He suffers and endures before the eyes of the world. She is sinking into the quiet of death... Alas! why are children indifferent to these things! Why are they not mindful of them? Why are they not eager to make a return to their parents for them? But the love of parents goes on nevertheless; and whatever parents bestow upon their children, God, the parent of us all, will duly repay." (excerpt from SERMON 33.2)
[Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 AD, was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century] (of Nazianzus & Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 5:21-43 comments that God often tells his servants to arise. He told Elijah, “Arise, go to Zarephath. . . . I have commanded a widow there to feed you” (1 Kings 17:9). He told a dead man, the only son of a widow, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” (Luke 7:14). A blind man outside Jericho heard, “Take courage; get up, he is calling you” (Mark 10:49). An angel told the deacon Philip, “Get up and head south” (Acts 8:26).
Arise! Get up! I have a plan for you! We may not know exactly what will happen next, but we can be sure that God has everything in hand.
Today during your prayer, stand up as straight and tall as you can. Ask God what he wants you to do next. Don’t worry if it sounds impossible. Just keep your eyes “fixed on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). If he can raise the dead, he can surely take care of you!
“Jesus, I stand ready to do whatever you call me to.” (Meditation on Mark 5:21-43, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the author of Hebrews often follows dogma with exhortation. The Hebrew understanding of “perfect” is to be consecrated as a priest, an anointing in which we participate through Baptism. Friar Jude reminds us that healing accompanied by faith is expressed as being saved in the Gospel as Jesus re animates the daughter of Jarius.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces author and retreat leader Paula D’Arcy who spoke of her childhood kitchen table as a symbol of the security of her first half of life.
At that table, the first part of my journey happened. At that table, we sat, and my sisters and I were quizzed on the Baltimore Catechism, and we learned the laws, and we learned the rules. It’s very interesting to think how at that table, I first heard the question, “Who is God?” and “Why were we created?” And we parroted back to my parents the lesson book, the things that we were learning. At that table, we passed back and forth to my parents our report cards and sat hoping that they were good enough. At that table, we learned the values that had given my parents’ life shape.
when I dreamt that the table was now removed. It had served its purpose. It had held me while I went through the first half of my journey. It had provided all of the things that were meant to be provided, and now the table was removed, because the journey was to go a different way. The journey was now within. Now, all the doors and all the answers and all the mystery were going to be found not at that table, but … looking through eyes that were very different, and a life that was suddenly broken open in a different way. I learned the roots of love at that table, but when the table was removed .… My litany at that table would have been, “Do I have what it takes to really love, to do the second half of the journey? (Rohr, 2023)
We reflect on the transitions we have experienced in our surrender to the love we have witnessed.
References
Alexander, A. (2021, January 31). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/013123.html
Hebrews, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/12
Mark, CHAPTER 5. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/5?21
Meditation on Mark 5:21-43. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/01/31/598344/
of Nazianzus, G., & Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Woman Who Took Heart in Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=jan31
Psalms, PSALM 22. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/22?26
Rohr, R. (2023, January 31). Making Room for Something New — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 31, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/making-room-for-something-new-2023-01-31/
