came up and, seeing Jesus, threw himself at his feet, and begged him earnestly, “My little
daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may get well
and live.” Jesus went with him, and many people followed, pressing around him. Among the
crowd was a woman, who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a
lot at the hands of many doctors, and had spent everything she had, but instead of getting
better, she was worse. Because she had heard about Jesus, this woman came up behind
him and touched his cloak, thinking, “If I just touch his clothing, I shall get well.” Her flow of
blood dried up at once, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her complaint.
But Jesus was conscious that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around
in the crowd, and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples answered, “You see how
the people are crowding around you. Why do you ask who touched you?” But he kept
looking around to see who had done it. Then “Do not fear, just believe.” the woman, aware
of what had happened, came forward trembling and afraid. She knelt before him, and told
him the whole truth. Then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in
peace and be free of this illness.” While Jesus was still speaking, some people arrived from
the official’s house to inform him, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Master any
further?” But Jesus ignored what they said, and told the official, “Do not fear, just believe.”
And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house, Jesus saw a great commotion, with people weeping and
wailing loudly. Jesus entered, and said to them, “Why all this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead, but asleep.” They laughed at him. So Jesus sent them outside, and
went with the child’s father and mother and his companions into the room, where the child
lay. Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha kumi!” which means, “Little girl, get up!”
The girl got up at once and began to walk around. (She was twelve years old.) The parents
were amazed, greatly amazed. Jesus strictly ordered them not to let anyone know about
it; and he told them to give her something to eat.

READ: Jairus pleaded with Jesus to heal his seriously sick daughter. Jesus went with
Jairus with the large crowd followed them and pressed on Jesus. There was a woman who
suffered from bleeding for twelve years. The woman came behind Jesus and touched his
cloak because she thought that if she could touch Jesus’ cloak she would be healed. She
was healed. Jesus was aware that healing power had gone out of him. He turned around
and asked who had touched him. His disciples could not know since the crowd was pressing
on him. Jesus kept on looking for the one who touched him. The woman came and told the
truth. People from Jairus’ house came to tell them that the daughter was already dead. Jesus
ignored what they said. Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter back to life.

REFLECT: Today’s Gospel narrates two important miracles performed by Jesus: the raising
up of Jairus’ daughter back to life and the healing of the woman who suffered from bleeding for
twelve years. The second miracle is framed by the pleading of Jairus for Jesus to heal her
daughter who was at the point of death and the eventual raising of the girl back to life.
The woman was sick for a long time and no one was able to cure her. These two miracles
depict Jesus’ power over hopeless situations. We continue our faith journey for Jesus, who
has the power over hopeless situations, and who journeys with us.

PRAY: We pray that Jesus may strengthen our hope.

ACT: Let us be beacons of hope for others by keeping a positive disposition.

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