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In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
Dear brothers and sisters, in today’s Gospel we heard about the Lord’s resurrection of the dead daughter of Jaurus, the head of the Jewish synagogue, and of the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, who had suffered from her illness for twelve years. And because this Gospel reading is very profound and has great instructive and edifying meaning for us, we will read it again, so that we might better remember it.
And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue; and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought Him that He would come into his house. For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as He went, the people thronged Him.
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind Him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
And Jesus said, Who touched Me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with Him said, Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.
And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately. And He said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
While He yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
And when He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but He said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
And He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but He charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
This is the Gospel we read today. It clearly reveals, brothers and sisters, first of all the teaching about how there will undoubtedly be the resurrection of the dead; for the Lord resurrected the reposed, as we can see, mainly in order to show that He is the resurrection and life (Jn. 11:25). Therefore, we should all, with vigilant hearts and sober minds, spend all the time of this life in expectation of the General Resurrection and the great day of the appearance from the Heavens of the Lord of Glory with all His angels, in His Second and Terrible Coming.
Another instruction for us consists in the following: No matter what situation we might find ourselves in, we should never consider it hopeless. Any depression or despair is an insult to God’s greatness. Are not two sparrows, says the Savior, sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows (Matt. 10:29–31). And the Lord speaks through the lips of the Psalmist: Call upon Me in the day of thine affliction, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me (Ps. 49:16). There is no sorrow that cannot be healed by the Omnipotent One. It is here that His power is mainly part revealed, where no other power can save the sufferer.
Moreover, also revealed from the Gospel reading today is the truth that in order to receive heavenly help, we must for our own part have faith. The Savior anounced the promise that all things are possible for those who believe (cf. Mk. 9:23). Where the Lord found faith, He worked miracles; but where He didn’t find it, He didn’t work any miracles. The Lord is close to all; but only those who have faith—firm faith—are close to Him. That is the reason why we ask but do not receive—because we ask without having faith.
Remember, my dear ones, that the Lord is close to us. When calamities, misfortunes, and trials befall you, when it seems that all is lost, and you can’t expect help from anywhere, remember that you have an All-Powerful Intercessor—the Lord. Turn to Him in that time with prayer; cleave to Him with all your heart, and you will behold the glory of God (cf. Mk. 5:36; Jn. 11:40). And just as the Lord praised the woman with the issue of blood for her faith, so will He bless all who believes in Him, and say to them: Be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. Amen.
1962
