February 1, 2022 - Tuesday

4th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mk 5:21-43 

21When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22Then one of the  leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him,  fell at his feet 23and begged him repeatedly, “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.” 24So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25Now  there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26She had endured much under many physicians, and  had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the  crowd and touched his cloak, 28for she said, “If I but touch his clothes,  I will be made well.” 29Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she  felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30Immediately  aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the  crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31And his disciples said  to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who  touched me?’” 32He looked all around to see who had done it. 33But  the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and  trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34He  said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and  be healed of your disease.” 35While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher  any further?” 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the  leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37He allowed  no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of  James. 38When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue,  he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. Presentation of the Lord 39When he  had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40And 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. 41He  took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means,  “Little girl, get up!” 42And immediately the girl got up and began to  walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome  with amazement. 43He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. 

For the Jews, blood signifies life when it courses through the veins and arteries of the body. But blood that escapes  from the body signifies death and renders a person impure and untouchable. The hemorrhagic woman has to endure her condition not only as a physical malady, but also as a social stigma.  She is virtually dead, just as Jairus’ young daughter is physically dead.  Their common situation is highlighted by the mention of twelve years — a period that signifies fullness of time. Indeed, both of them experience fullness of time as Jesus comes into their situation, defying  the socio-religious taboo by allowing an untouchable bleeding woman to touch him and then touching the untouchable dead body of Jairus’  daughter. Death, whether virtual or real, cannot endure the touch of the Author of life. 

Lord Jesus, grant that we, too, may experience “fullness of time,” as you banish those dark forces that threaten to rob us of life. Amen.