Message of Abbot Paul - Tuesday - 30th January 2024

​As I’m invariably waking up earlier at the moment, usually before 4am, Toby and I take our early morning walk even earlier than usual. However, the light pollution around Belmont due to housing and the NHS occupying the old school boarding houses, means that our feathered friends are also up and about hours before the crack of dawn. This results in a lot of glorious birdsong, as well as Toby having his fill of being chased from one bush to another by angry robins.

 

​Today’s Gospel passage from Mark, (Mk 5: 21-43), is slightly longer than yesterday’s and gives a detailed account of two miracles, the healing or raising of Jairus’ daughter and the curing of the women with the haemorrhage, the second enclosed within the first, and so presented as one episode, which is interesting in itself. It reads rather like the chapter of a good novel. The events of the day happen like this. “When Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lakeside. Then one of the synagogue officials came up, Jairus by name, and seeing him, fell at his feet and pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.’ Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him.” Jesus returns to Capernaum, but the crowds on the shore are so great that he’s forced to remain there. It’s then that Jairus comes up to him and begs for help, His little daughter is dying. Jairus asks Jesus to lay his hands on her and heal her, so he goes immediately with the synagogue official, followed by the crowd. While they are on their way, a sick woman fights her way through the crowd and without even asking to be healed, touches the hem of his cloak and is instantly cured.

 

Mark writes, “Now there was a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years; after long and painful treatment under various doctors, she spent all she had without being any the better for it, in fact, she was getting worse. She had heard about Jesus, and she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his cloak. ‘If I can touch even his clothes,’ she had told herself ‘I shall be well again.’ And the source of the bleeding dried up instantly, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint. Immediately aware that power had gone out from him, Jesus turned round in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ His disciples said to him, ‘You see how the crowd is pressing round you and yet you say, “Who touched me?”’ But he continued to look all round to see who had done it. Then the woman came forward, frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her, and she fell at his feet and told him the whole truth. ‘My daughter,’ he said ‘your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint.’” Such is the faith of this woman that she is convinced that, by merely touching his clothes, Jesus can heal her, and she is healed instantaneously. Jesus knows immediately that someone has touched him wanting to be healed and, indeed, has been healed. Although the woman is frightened that she might have done wrong and be punished, Jesus is kindness itself to her, even calling her his daughter. Like the Gerasene demoniac, she is set free to go in peace. Jesus says, “Your faith has healed you.” We will never know what else he would have said to the woman, for at that very moment news comes from Jairus’ house of the death of his little daughter.

 

Mark writes, “While he was still speaking some people arrived from the house of the synagogue official to say, ‘Your daughter is dead: why put the Master to any further trouble?’ But Jesus had overheard this remark of theirs and he said to the official, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith.’ And he allowed no one to go with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they came to the official’s house and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. So he turned them all out and, taking with him the child’s father and mother and his own companions, he went into the place where the child lay. And taking the child by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha, kum!’ which means, ‘Little girl, I tell you to get up.’ The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. At this they were overcome with astonishment, and he ordered them strictly not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.” Jesus often overhears remarks and speaks out against what he hears. Those encouraging Jairus not to disturb the Master further are countered by Jesus himself who says, “Do not be afraid, only have faith.” These two miracles are really lessons in faith for us who read them, When Jesus speaks to Jairus or to the woman with the haemorrhage, he is speaking to us. It is we who need not fear, but should always step forward in faith. From this moment on we will notice that Jesus is often accompanied by Peter, James and John, the inner group of three disciples. Jesus states categorically that the little girl is not dead, but asleep, which causes those present to laugh. Taking the little girl by the hand, Jesus orders her to get up. Here Mark retains the original words spoken by Jesus in Aramaic. Everyone is astonished, but Jesus is more practical and knows that the little girl must be hungry. Astonishment won’t satisfy her, a good breakfast will!