BIBLE STUDY #96


THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORIDNARY TIME

July 1, 2012



READING 1

WISDOM 1:13-15; 2:23-24



God did not make death,

nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living.

For he fashioned all things that they might have being;

and the creatures of the world are wholesome,

and there is not a destructive drug among them

nor any domain of the netherworld on earth,

for justice is undying.

For God formed man to be imperishable;

the image of his own nature he made him.

But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world,

and they who belong to his company experience it.



The Word of the Lord



READING 2

2 CORINTHIANS 8:7, 9, 13-15



Brothers and sisters:

As you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse,

knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you,

may you excel in this gracious act also.



For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor,

so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Not that others should have relief while you are burdened,

but that as a matter of equality

your abundance at the present time should supply their needs,

so that their abundance may also supply your needs,

that there may be equality.

As it is written:

Whoever had much did not have more,

and whoever had little did not have less.



The Word of the Lord



GOSPEL

MARK 5:21-43



When Jesus had crossed again in the boat

to the other side,

a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.

One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.

Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,

"My daughter is at the point of death.

Please, come lay your hands on her

that she may get well and live."

He went off with him,

and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.



There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.

She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors

and had spent all that she had.

Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd

and touched his cloak.

She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured."

Immediately her flow of blood dried up.

She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him,

turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?"

But his disciples said to Jesus,

"You see how the crowd is pressing upon you,

and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'"

And he looked around to see who had done it.

The woman, realizing what had happened to her,

approached in fear and trembling.

She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you.

Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."



While he was still speaking,

people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said,

"Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"

Disregarding the message that was reported,

Jesus said to the synagogue official,

"Do not be afraid; just have faith."

He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside

except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,

he caught sight of a commotion,

people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them,

"Why this commotion and weeping?

The child is not dead but asleep."

And they ridiculed him.

Then he put them all out.

He took along the child's father and mother

and those who were with him

and entered the room where the child was.

He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"

which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"

The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.

At that they were utterly astounded.

He gave strict orders that no one should know this

and said that she should be given something to eat.



While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said,

"Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"

Disregarding the message that was reported,

Jesus said to the synagogue official,

"Do not be afraid; just have faith."

He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside

except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,

he caught sight of a commotion,

people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them,

"Why this commotion and weeping?

The child is not dead but asleep."

And they ridiculed him.

Then he put them all out.

He took along the child's father and mother

and those who were with him

and entered the room where the child was.

He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"

which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"

The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.

At that they were utterly astounded.

He gave strict orders that no one should know this

and said that she should be given something to eat.



The Gospel of the Lord



Reflection



The Gospel today begins with Jesus returning from the Gentile side of the lake to the Jewish side. Being on the shore, or “close to the sea” is also the occasion for other important events, such as the call of the disciples in 1:16-20, the call of Levi in 4:1- 34, and multiple healings by Jesus in 3:7-12.



The words translated as ‘one of the leaders of the synagogue’ can also be translated as the ‘president of the synagogue’. This office primarily oversaw the physical condition and the financial well being of the synagogue. In Hellenistic literature, this term is also used for the leaders of the assembly. Jairus and Bartimaeus (see 10:46) are the only proper names used in the miracle stories in Mark’s Gospel.



Jairus kneels at the feet of Jesus. This is not an act of worship, but an act of petition. His request is for Jesus to heal her daughter of her illness. This also shows that not all Jewish leaders oppose Jesus.



Jairus asks Jesus to “lay your hands on her” which is a profound liturgical act, such as in the consecration at Mass where the priests stretches his hands over the gifts of bread and wine, when the priest lays hands on the sick during the anointing of the sick, and when the priest raises his hands in forgiveness during the sacrament of reconciliation. As we will see, both miracle stories will have something to do with faith and salvation, of being raised to eternal life as well as being healed.



As Jesus is going to the house of Jairus, he is interrupted by a “woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.” Notice that Jesus doesn’t brush her off because he is busy. People are always important to Jesus and he always takes time to assist those in need. This is a good lesson for us: no matter how busy we get, we should always make time for people, especially for those we love.



This woman would be considered ritually unclean and would be avoided by other people. She wouldn’t be able to go to the Temple or synagogue and most people would avoid her causing some loneliness to her. The reason for the hemorrhages is unclear, but she was probably in some kind of discomfort and/or pain: “She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had.

Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.” This woman is unclean, suffering, and nearly poor. Neither her religion nor medicine offers any help, so she turns to Jesus. Her action in approaching Jesus shows initiative and courage since she is risking contact with others.



Healing by touch is a common theme in the ancient world, and this woman is healed by touching the cloak of Jesus, which shows his divine power. The woman felt she was cured at the same time Jesus felt the power go out of him. Jesus is so charged with power that healing occurs merely by touching him. His question about who touched his cloak is a way to set up what happens next.



She goes to him “in fear and trembling”, that is, in awe of his power. Jesus calls her ‘daughter’, which reminds us of 3:31-35 where those who do the will of God are members of Jesus’ family. She becomes an example for all of us.



It is her faith in Jesus that allows her to be healed. The same word translated as healing can also be translated as being saved. So, it is her faith in Jesus ability to heal that affected her cure of the hemorrhages, and it is her faith in Jesus that causes her salvation; in both cases, being saved from death.



He sends her away with a blessing of peace, which is both a blessing and a prayer that she may be blessed with wholeness and health (shalom).



We now turn our attention back to the first miracle story. Jesus is told that the little girl has died which heightens the drama of this story and seems like it puts Jesus in an impossible situation. Jairus is still with Jesus during the healing of the woman and the messenger from his household tells him, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?" Since she is dead, there is no hope left.



Surprisingly to those listening, Jesus says, "Do not be afraid; just have faith."

Fear often appears as a theme in miracle stories; this fear is a lack of trust and hope in Jesus.



He brings his 3 favorite disciples, Peter, James, and John go with him to Jairus’ house. These three are the first disciples called (1:16-20), are the first in the list of disciples (3:16-17), and are with Jesus at important moments in his life, such as the transfiguration (9:2) and in Gethsemane (14:33).



It was common in the ancient world to have elaborate rituals of mourning, which could include loud cries of sorrow, fasting, and laments, to name a few. Putting out the mourners from the house does seem to be a rejection of these elaborate mourning practices by Jesus.



Saying that she is only sleeping, Jesus contradicts the report of her death. Early Christianity used sleep as a euphemism for death. This hints about Jesus ultimate victory over death.



So, of course, Jesus is not believed. Who would believe him? Jesus grabs the girl by the hand (touching is common in miracle stories) which is the most severe of impurities and is another example of Jesus violating cultural codes for a greater good. He tells her to rise and she immediately gets up and walks around. She is resuscitated, brought back to life. This miracle is symbolic of Jesus victory over death by his own death and resurrection which brings us from death to eternal life.



Jesus gave strict orders that no one was to tell this story. Why not? You think he would want it known. This is a technique called the messianic secret. We can’t understand the life of Jesus without taking it in context with his death and resurrection. Jesus is more than just a physical healer. He is, first and foremost, a spiritual healer who heals us in the most important way – by offering us eternal life after our human life is over. Death is the ultimate healer, where we go to a realm (heaven) where we are freed from the brokenness of this world.



The woman is a great symbol of faith and trust. After everyone in the world failed her, took her funds, and left her to suffering, she approached the only one who could help. She has great courage considering the time period to go to Jesus for healing, and she has great faith that he can heal her. She doesn’t even want to bother him; she is so convinced of his power she feels that all she needs to do is touch his cloak and she will be healed. Her faith saved her because it was her great trust and faith in Jesus that not only healed her physically, but also brought salvation



Jairus is the same way. He tells Jesus, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live." He has no doubt about Jesus ability to heal her.



Both people are great examples of faith and trust. We need to learn and trust in the Lord in the same way and that he can also heal us in ways we can never imagine. Jesus always takes time for people. We need to learn to do the same.







Fr. Phil