Do not be afraid; just have faith

5 FEBRUARY (Mk 5,21-43)

Jesus is the man of the most pure faith. He is also the true Master of faith. Not only does he teach the Word of Faith, he also says to every person how the faith must be manifested, revealed and shown in history. He helps all those who come in contact with him how to walk from faith to faith, until reaching the perfect faith. Helping the other person so that he always lives of perfect faith is science and art that can only be lived in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

A woman approaches Jesus, touches his cloak furtively, she is cured of her illness. In silence and on the sly she was walking away from her benefactor. The faith of this woman is still not perfect. It is a hidden faith. Faith must always be public. Everyone must learn from the faith of others, otherwise never might there be future of faith on earth. Jesus compels her to reveal to the world her faith. Now everyone knows that faith does not need words. A simple gesture is enough, and if the faith is true, the miracle takes place. What God does, must always be revealed.

When Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?'” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. (At that) they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

Jairus has an incipient, imperfect faith on Lord Jesus. He knows that Jesus can heal her daughter lying in bed seriously ill and rushes to him, asking for his urgent intervention. Jesus heard her cry from the heart and goes to the house where the girl is lying ill. But in the meantime she dies. Those at home go meet Jairus and invite him not to disturb the Master any more. What help can Jesus give to a dead body? None. By now, his presence is useless.

The weak faith of others can be a serious temptation for ours still weak and incipient. Jesus comes to the aid of the faith of Jairus. Invites him not to be afraid. He tells him to have faith in Him. Only trust me. I will not let you down. I did not come here for nothing. Jairus trusts Jesus and continues to have faith. His girl is resurrected. She is revived by a simple words of the Master: “Little girl, I say to you rise up.” Faith is the breath of life, of our relationship with Jesus. Jesus knows how much this breath is tenuous, small, evanescent and comes to our rescue and help. He is the Master who teaches each of us that have to transform ourselves into supporters of the faith of others. Without this our help, much faith is lost and remains paralyzed.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us supporters of the faith.