First Reading (2 Samuel 18:9-10,14b,24-25a,30-19:3)
Reading from the Second Book of Samuel.
In those days, Absalom happened to come upon the men of David. He was riding on a mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. Absalom’s head got caught in the branches of the tree, and he was left hanging in midair, while the mule he was riding kept on going.
Someone saw this and reported to Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.” Joab took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree. David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city, and a watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked out, he saw a man running alone.
The watchman called out to the king and reported it. The king said, “If he is alone, he must have good news.” And the runner came closer and closer. Then the watchman saw another runner, and he called down to the gatekeeper, “Look, another man running alone!”
The king said, “He must be bringing good news too.” The watchman said, “It seems to me that the first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” “He’s a good man,” the king said. “He comes with good news.” Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise be to the Lord your God! He has delivered up those who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”
The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was.” The king said, “Stand aside and wait here.” So he stepped aside and stood there.
Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.” The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up to harm you be like that young man.”
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.”
– The word of the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Mk 5:21-43)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus crossed again in a boat to the other side. A large crowd gathered around him, and Jesus stayed on the shore. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded with him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”
Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that she had, and she was no better, but rather grew worse.
She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Jesus, aware that power had gone forth from him, turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?'”
He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.
When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this, they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
— The Gospel of the Lord.
— Praise to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, may the peace of the Lord be with you. Today, we are called to reflect on the Holy Scriptures, which offer us light and guidance for our lives. Amidst our daily journeys, we are invited to delve into the biblical passages of the First Reading (2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30-19:3) and the Gospel (Mark 5:21-43). These divinely inspired words reveal profound and meaningful lessons that can illuminate our hearts and guide our steps.
Today, I would like to begin our reflection with an image that we all have experienced at some point in our lives: the journey through darkness. Who among us has never felt lost in the darkness, be it literal or metaphorical? Often, our lives may resemble the dark night described in the First Reading. David, the man after God’s own heart, faced battles and challenges that led him to walk through shadowy lands. The narrative speaks of the anguish of a father who, despite his son Absalom’s rebellion, deeply desired his safety and well-being.
And how many times have we, as sons and daughters of God, found ourselves in similar situations? In the darkness of uncertainty, in the despair of loss, in the sadness of sin, we cry out for a light to guide us. However, it is essential to remember that even in the darkest shadows, divine mercy is present. Just as David, who, even struck by the news of his son’s death, acknowledged the strength of God’s grace by saying, “Blessed be the Lord, who delivered my son from the conspiracy.”
The First Reading reminds us that, amid adversities, God is silently working in our lives. Even when we do not fully understand the purpose of our pains, we can trust in the Lord’s faithfulness. Darkness will not prevail because the light of divine hope always shines in our hearts.
However, we cannot linger only in the contemplation of darkness. We need to turn to the Gospel, which presents two extraordinary episodes full of healing and restoration. The narrative of Jairus, a synagogue leader, and the woman with the issue of blood reveals the powerful intervention of Jesus in the lives of those who seek Him with faith.
Imagine the scene: Jairus, a respectable man and community leader, desperately seeking Jesus to heal his sick daughter. Meanwhile, a woman experiencing chronic pain, after touching Jesus’ garments, experiences instant healing. Jesus, knowing all our afflictions, calls the woman “daughter” and encourages her to go in peace, without fear.
These stories invite us to reflect on our own search for healing and restoration. Often, we face challenges that seem impossible to overcome. However, the Word of God assures us that by touching the Lord’s garments with faith, we will experience His transformative grace. Just like the woman with the issue of blood, we are called to approach Jesus, confident in His ability to restore what is broken in us.
And as we walk in this journey of faith, we must remember that healing goes beyond the physical aspect. Jesus deeply cares about our spiritual and emotional restoration. He not only healed the woman externally but also reconnected her with the community by calling her “daughter.” This is a powerful reminder that, in Christ, we are welcomed as beloved sons and daughters of God.
Jairus’ intercession for his seemingly hopeless daughter also teaches us about the importance of persisting in prayer, even when everything seems lost. In the face of imminent death, Jesus offers words that transcend despair: “The child is not dead but sleeping.” With courageous faith, Jairus and his wife witness the power of Christ, who resurrects the girl.
How often do we give up in the face of adversity, forgetting that we serve a God capable of transforming even death into life? Jairus’ story reminds us that hope is not lost, even in the darkest moments. If we trust in Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life, He can transform our seemingly lifeless situations into experiences of renewal and rebirth.
Dear brothers and sisters, the Scriptures we contemplate today are invitations to deepen our faith and trust in God. In the darkness of the night, let us trust that God is working in our lives, just as He did with David. By touching Jesus’ garments, let us open our hearts to the healing and restoration He desires to offer us, as He did with the woman with the issue of blood. And even in the face of apparent death, let us persevere in hope, remembering that Jesus is capable of resurrecting what seems lost, as we saw in the story of Jairus and his daughter.
As we reflect on these passages, we are challenged to apply these spiritual truths in our daily lives. What we learn in God’s Word should not be mere theoretical knowledge but a lived reality. So, how can we make these principles tangible in our daily lives?
Firstly, we must cultivate persevering faith. Just as Jairus persisted in seeking Jesus, even when the situation seemed hopeless, we should maintain constant trust in God, knowing that He is the Lord of all circumstances. Persistent prayer is a powerful expression of our faith, connecting us to the God who listens and responds.
Furthermore, considering the story of the woman with the issue of blood, we are challenged to recognize the need to approach Jesus with humility and faith. Often, our search for solutions is laden with worries and anxieties. However, simple and humble trust in Jesus’ ability to heal and restore is what He seeks in us. May we abandon our insecurities and approach Him with an open heart, as the woman did in the crowd.
Healing and restoration also involve integration into the community. The woman with the issue of blood, after being healed, was called by Jesus “daughter” and encouraged to go in peace. Healing is not only individual but reconnects us to the community of faith. Therefore, we must actively seek to participate in the life of the Church, sharing our experiences of faith and encouraging one another in the spiritual journey.
Finally, Jairus’ story reminds us that the power of Jesus transcends seemingly hopeless circumstances. He is the Lord over life and death. Faced with life’s challenges, we must trust that, in Christ, we find the true hope that does not disappoint. Regardless of the situations we face, our confidence is in the Resurrection and the Life, capable of transforming the impossible into possible.
Dear brothers and sisters, may these spiritual truths not remain merely as words but become lived realities in our lives. May persevering faith, humble trust in Jesus, integration into the community, and hope in the Resurrection guide our daily steps.
In concluding our reflection, I invite each of you to take a moment of silence. In this moment, may we open our hearts before God, allowing His light to illuminate any darkness that may exist in our lives. May the Holy Spirit inspire us to live according to the truths we reflected upon today.
Dear Lord, we thank you for Your guiding and illuminating Word. We ask for Your grace to live in a way that reflects the faith, trust, and hope we find in You. May, as a community, we walk together toward the fullness of life You desire for us. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.
May the grace, love, and hope of God be with us always. Amen.
