Meeting Mourning and Life

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present times of lament and mourning even as we ponder reanimation during grief as a companion of Jesus.

Love and Life

The Reading from the Second Book of Samuel presents the Death of Absalom and David’s Reaction when Told of Absalom’s Death. (2 Samuel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 86 is an individual lament.

* [Psalm 86] An individual lament. The psalmist, “poor and oppressed” (Ps 86:1), “devoted” (Ps 86:2), “your servant” (Ps 86:2, 4, 16), “rescued from the depths of Sheol” (Ps 86:13), attacked by the ruthless (Ps 86:14), desires only God’s protection (Ps 86:1–7, 11–17). (Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus heals Jairus’s Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage.

* [5:21–43] The story of the raising to life of Jairus’s daughter is divided into two parts: Mk 5:21–24; 5:35–43. Between these two separated parts the account of the cure of the hemorrhage victim (Mk 5:25–34) is interposed. This technique of intercalating or sandwiching one story within another occurs several times in Mk 3:19b–21; Mk 3:22–30; 3:31–35; 6:6b–13; 6:14–29; 6:30; 11:12–14; 11:15–19; 11:20–25; 14:53; 14:54; 14:55–65; 14:66–73.

* [5:23] Lay your hands on her: this act for the purpose of healing is frequent in Mk 6:5; 7:32–35; 8:23–25; 16:18 and is also found in Mt 9:18; Lk 4:40; 13:13; Acts 9:17; 28:8.

* [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.

* [5:41] Arise: the Greek verb egeirein is the verb generally used to express resurrection from death (Mk 6:14, 16; Mt 11:5; Lk 7:14) and Jesus’ own resurrection (Mk 16:6; Mt 28:6; Lk 24:6). (Mark, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

Mirielle Mason comments that this Gospel shows us that God will always meet us where we are.

There is no circumstance too far gone for Him to love us through. He calls us to give Him our troubles so that we can follow His path. Again, I find this difficult, but allow me to share a mental image I have prayed with that I find helpful. I imagine a nasty black mass of goo. It has a mind of its own, and tries to cling to me. This filth is whatever I am trying to lay at the feet of the Lord. I imagine, sometimes over and over, doing just that. I approach the resplendent feet of the Lord and imagine relinquishing my burden. I pray as I do this, that God will help me to let go of my fears, and fill me with His peace.

My prayer for us all this day is that we may be able to relinquish our fears to the Lord, and that He may replace them with His love and peace. (Mason, n.d.)

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] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 5:21-43 comments that when we come to Jesus with faith and trust, it makes all the difference. Our faith connects us to him in a life-changing way. It enables us to come to him and surrender our own ideas. It helps us bring him our needs with trust in the goodness of his plan.

It moves us to stand before him stripped of our own efforts and solutions, knowing that he alone can make us whole. Then, ready to receive his grace, we can experience his healing and salvation.

“Jesus, I come to you with everything on my heart. But I don’t want to push you to follow my plan. I simply reach out to you and ask you to heal me.” (Meditation on Mark 5:21-43, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in 2 Samuel the story of how the rebellious son Absalom was killed in the battle “between heaven and earth” is presented. The messengers hear the response of David that his son has been killed “If only I had died rather than you” David shows tremendous love for Absalom. In previous verses in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus executes a nature miracle, and an exorcism of the demoniac. In Mark, the "sandwich” after the synagogue officials initial contact is with the woman suffering with a hemorrhage.  She should not have touched Jesus. In Hebrew practice she was unclean and made Jesus unclean by touching Him. In the other Gospels and in this story Jesus says “your faith has saved you”, Being saved is being healed spiritually and physically. Jesus takes Peter, James and John to the girl and calls her to rise and Jesus takes her dead body to life by touching her. Friar Jude notes that Jesus takes care of her ordinary needs after reanimating the girl and we witness a small healing and a large healing in the Gospel today.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley who describes God’s vision of shalom, which is the ancient Hebrew vision of communal peace and universal thriving.

God’s will and cosmic design is that no one suffer unjustly, but because human beings create unjust systems, shalom-type social parameters must serve as a social safety net to offset human disobedience. In order to create a shalom system of social harmony, no person could be oppressed for too long without hope of ease and eventual release; no family could remain in poverty for generations; no land could be worked until it was depleted and useless; no animals could go hungry for too long. Any of these violations of shalom that were left unmitigated for too long would upset the natural order of reciprocity fixed in all creation. (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit to meet us in our mourning and desire for understanding and sustain our journey to healing with Jesus' condolence that “Your faith has saved you.”

References

Mark, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/5?21 

Mason, M. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-february-3-2026 

Meditation on Mark 5:21-43. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/02/02/1492402/ 

Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/86?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/communal-shalom/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Woman Who Took Heart in Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

2 Samuel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/18?9 

Trust and Healing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to the need for patient acceptance of events that seem to be in conflict with our faithful relationship with God as we trust in a loving healing of our distress.

Healing and Trust

In the reading from the Second Book of Samuel, David Mourns for Absalom.

Psalm 86 is supplication for help against Enemies.

* [Psalm 86] An individual lament. The psalmist, “poor and oppressed” (Ps 86:1), “devoted” (Ps 86:2), “your servant” (Ps 86:2, 4, 16), “rescued…from the depths of Sheol” (Ps 86:13), attacked by the ruthless (Ps 86:14), desires only God’s protection (Ps 86:1–7, 11–17). (Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Mark, a girl is restored to Life and a woman healed.

* [5:21–43] The story of the raising to life of Jairus’s daughter is divided into two parts: Mk 5:21–24; 5:35–43. Between these two separated parts the account of the cure of the hemorrhage victim (Mk 5:25–34) is interposed. This technique of intercalating or sandwiching one story within another occurs several times in Mk 3:19b–21; Mk 3:22–30; 3:31–35; 6:6b–13; 6:14–29; 6:30; 11:12–14; 11:15–19; 11:20–25; 14:53; 14:54; 14:55–65; 14:66–73.

* [5:23] Lay your hands on her: this act for the purpose of healing is frequent in Mk 6:5; 7:32–35; 8:23–25; 16:18 and is also found in Mt 9:18; Lk 4:40; 13:13; Acts 9:17; 28:8.

* [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. 

* [5:41] Arise: the Greek verb egeirein is the verb generally used to express resurrection from death (Mk 6:14, 16; Mt 11:5; Lk 7:14) and Jesus’ own resurrection (Mk 16:6; Mt 28:6; Lk 24:6). (Mark, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)

George Butterfield (2014) comments that in the Gospel today both fathers reach out to men who they believe can help, men they trust. The first man’s hopes are dashed. The second man celebrates.

David trusted Joab and he failed David in one of the most important episodes of his life. Jairus trusted Jesus and saw Death flee from the presence of He who is Life. The heading for Psalm 86 is “A prayer of David.” We do not know when in his life he prayed this prayer. We only know that, by now, he knows what Jairus knew. He knew that it makes a difference where you place your trust. He declares: You are my God. I trust in you. (Butterfield, 2024)

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] (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 5:21-43 comments that we may experience seasons when life is challenging, and we feel discouraged, much like the suffering woman. Maybe we have exhausted all other options and are losing hope that God cares about our pain. At these moments, we can remember the woman’s perseverance and tenacity as she pushed her way through the crowds to reach out to Jesus. We can trust that God does hear our cries. He will give us the strength we need.

Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman sought out Jesus because of the circumstances in their lives. They needed him that day by the Sea of Galilee, and they would always need him. And so will we. This is why Jesus came.

Whatever your current circumstances, go to the Lord today and confess your need for him. In that honest place, he will always meet you.

“Father, I need you. I know that if I reach out my hand to you, you will lift me up.” (Meditation on Mark 5:21-43, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the story of the death of Absalom and the deep remorse of David and the wish of the parent to change places with the son. The two healings of the Gospel are presented within a Marken sandwich. The presentation of these events in Luke omits the reference to failed doctors and the message in Mark that Jesus did not know all things. The reanimation of Jarius' daughter is not a resurrection because she will eventually die.

Brian McLaren points to the difference between domination and dominion in the Bible.

The book of Genesis is often blamed for the domination story because, in the Garden of Eden story, human beings are given dominion over the rest of creation (Genesis 1:28). People assume dominion means domination, but I don’t think you have to read the story that way. The nature of God in the first creation story isn’t God dominating and forcing the world into a certain mold. It is “Let there be light.” It’s a permission-giving power.

It’s such a fascinating phrase: “Let there be light.” And also “Let there be land, let there be sea, let there be crawling creatures, let there be fish, let there be humans.” It’s a permission-giving rather than a domination. Then when human beings are made in the image of God, and God says, “You can have dominion,” we would expect it should be the same kind of gentle presence rather than a dominating, controlling, exploiting presence. It’s not “Let there be exploitation.” It’s very, very different. [3] (McLaren, n.d.)

We are reminded to hold to our trust in God even as it might be questioned during the times in which we experience great suffering or anxiety for our loved ones.

References

Butterfield, G. (2024, January 30). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/013024.html 

Mark, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/5?21 

McLaren, B. (n.d.). The Story of Domination. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-story-of-domination/ 

Meditation on Mark 5:21-43. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/30/885407/ 

Psalms, PSALM 86 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/86?1 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Woman Who Took Heart in Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=jan30 

2 Samuel, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 30, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/18?9