Deacon Larry

   

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wis 1: 13-15, 2: 23-24; 2 Cor 8: 7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5: 21-43

Dc. Larry Brockman

What do you suppose the hemorrhaging woman and the Synagogue official Jairus had in common?  Was it sincerity, dire need, and desperation- to be sure.  But others surely shared the desire for a miracle born out of these emotions,  And yet, with all these people that were following Jesus, these are the two that experienced the miracle, not the others. 

Now these two people were as different as night and day.  One, the woman, was an outcast, considered unclean.  She was shunned by the people in the crowd, literally an “untouchable”.  The other, Jairus, was a respected leader of the Jewish society.  He was very popular with the people in the crowd.  So, why combine these two stories together?  Is there a lesson to be learned from what else is common in them? 

Perhaps it was to teach us about the combined virtues of Faith and Humility.  Jesus proclaimed that their Faith had saved both of them.  The woman was so faithful that she believed it was only necessary to just touch Jesus cloak.  And Jairus humiliated himself in front of those he led, the people, by prostrating himself to Jesus, because he believed Jesus was the only one who could help him.  His faith was so strong that nothing else mattered.  Indeed, what is also clear from the Gospel text is the degree of humility that these two very different people had.  You see, both of them approached Jesus with respect and with humility.  That’s what they had in common.  Neither was bold and forceful.  Rather, they opened themselves up completely to Jesus no matter what the consequences.

 I think there’s a reason for the need to be humble, and it has to do with intimacy.  When we are humble with those with whom we interact, that fosters a spirit of intimacy in the relationship.  And it is from that intimacy that the relationship blossoms.  From that intimacy, energy flows both ways and makes things happen. 

Certainly that is true between a husband and wife.  They are willing to share their real selves with each other, both a physical and a spiritual nakedness.  It takes humility in both of those areas for a marriage to be long lasting, doesn’t it.  After the honeymoon period in a marriage, there’s a long period of reality that settles in where the physical and spiritual flaws of the two people in the marriage become obvious to each other.  And yet, the two people learn to love and accept each other despite these flaws, and maybe even, because of them, if the marriage is to last.  That takes true humility and love between the two people.  And it results in incredible intimacy- the kind of intimacy that allows unselfish giving and lasting trust between the two people.  And from that intimacy flows many blessings- children, motivation, creativity, determination, and a host of other benefits. 

In this Gospel, we see the intimacy in the touching- a forbidden touch between the woman and Jesus; and Jairus prostrating himself at the feet of Jesus, and Jesus touching the girl to bring her back to life.  Well, the Lord wants that intimacy between you and himself.  That intimacy is established first of all, by your prayer.  But in the midst of that prayer, complete honesty and humility are essential if you are to become intimate with the Lord- the kind of intimacy that you need so that God’s grace will enable you- whether it is to weather a storm in your life; accept His will in whatever illness or infirmity you have; renew your efforts to be creative and productive; or whatever else it is that you need for yourself or another.  Faith in the Lord, and the kind of humility that allows you to establish an intimate relationship with Him, that’s what helps bring joy and comfort to you, as the ultimate answer to your prayer. 

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