Mark 5:21-43 – Where there’s death there’s hope
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.
Reflection written by Trevor Rodrigues, 2012 Pilgrimage Co-Leader, traveled to Dandora 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010
Dear Pilgrims, Happy Sunday! Arise, Arise, Arise! Today we celebrate a Mass in the Phase 1 Church and then a Mass in the Phase 3 Church. Today we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the sisters, St. Monica Catholic Community and Holy Cross Parish Dandora. Today we celebrate that we means the people of both communities, united as one people in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit! Today’s Gospel is perfect for our celebration.
We, from both communities, are the people who feel the anguish and the torment in our lives. Santa Monica and Dandora are so different, but we both feel the poverty in our lives. We have a child whom we struggle to care for. We have an illness that brings us in tears to our knees. We need something and don’t have the money to pay for it.
We, from both communities, when we are at our best, are the people who fall down before Jesus and surrender. We place our hope and faith in Jesus. As Jesus told the sick woman and broken hearted father in the Gospel, Jesus tells us, “Go in peace and be cured of your affliction,” and “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” Watch and listen prayerfully to the people of Dandora as they celebrate Mass today. During this past week, you have experienced the anguish and torment in their lives. Experience them today, they are cured, not afraid, and so faithful. In their faith, God has turned their tears into dancing. We can say the same of the people of St. Monica at Sunday Mass. Jesus is telling us, from both communities, “Arise!”
For the people of both communities, our hope and faith in Jesus have grown as we have walked together in these past 10 years. Arise and celebrate!!!
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