June 30,2024: Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Mark 5:21-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and 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.” So he went with him.
And 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. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus 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.
Jairus, one of the leaders of the synagogue, dared to ask Jesus to heal his daughter out of desperation and love. The woman who had bled for 12 years dared to touch Jesus’ cloak out of her own desperate hope for healing. Jairus’ efforts on behalf of his daughter and the woman’s bold move in touching Jesus’ clothes speak to me of the importance of never giving up hope. “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
Are there times in our lives when we have felt hopeless? When we wish our circumstances were different than what they are? What do we do in those situations? Do we stay stuck in our belief that our situation will never change for the better, or are we able to remain hopeful in God’s power to make a difference in our lives? “Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what [they] see? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it in patience” (Romans 8: 24b-25).
Nelson Mandela was a powerful model of hope in desperate circumstances. Imprisoned for 27 years, he never lost sight of his hope for racial equality and justice. He emerged from prison unbroken in spirit, determined to continue his mission of ending apartheid. While in prison, Mandela wrote to his wife to “Remember that hope is a powerful weapon even when all else is lost.”
Loving God, help us to be people of hope, always willing to turn to you in our need, for you are a God who longs to restore us to wholeness and fullness of life.