13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
Jesus is called to the house of Jairus and is told that the little girl has died…. but he shocks everyone by saying… “ she is not dead… but only sleeping.” Now, in fact, Jesus knew that she was actually dead, and so did everyone in the room, hence their shocked, unbelieving laughter… But Jesus was making a very profound point here……. To God, to those with faith, death is, (without trying to take away the permanence of the separation and the grief of the event in THIS LIFE… nevertheless… to the Lord of Life.. death is a sleeping…… a waiting until the time God will raise up our mortal bodies into resurrected life……. and the raising of this child in this Gospel is a foretaste of what Jesus promises to all who have faith….. not a raising from the dead in this life… but a raising from the dead at the end of time.. at the resurrection……
So, when Christians use the term ….. “may your servant sleep here in peace until you awaken them to glory” referring to the committal of human remains to its resting place…. it is not meant to be a euphemism for death… it is not meant to be a denial of the reality of the irrevocable and emotional wrench that comes with losing a loved one… but it is a reminder that we have commended our loved ones.. and we even entrust our lives…. to jesus who is the Lord of life and who will raise us us….. at the resurrection with the same certaintly that Jesus awakened the child with the the command… “..I tell you to get up.” (Faith is stronger than even death, Jesus shows us… in fact.. faith is now.. and in the next life….. a victory over death) (from Gustavo Gutierrez: Sharing the word through the Liturgical year).
In this weekend’s gospel, both the two people who approach Jesus are taking risks. But the situation they are in is worth it, they have nothing really to lose they have obviously tried everything else. They reach out to Jesus trusting that he can help them. Jairus, is a synagogue official who is risking his position by approaching Jesus to solve a problem that his tradition would have pointed him in a very different position. The lady who touches Jesus cloak is taking an enormous risk. It is probable that her condition would have rendered her, in the eyes of the relgious law of the day, ritually unclean and as such she would not have been permitted to touch anyone. Here she is believing that even touching his cloak would be enough, and it was. the scene that ensues could have led to great troubles, but the lady speaks up in faith and trust. ( This paragraph is adapted from “A Year of Sundays” Gospel reflections 2006. Little Rock Scripture Study, p47-48).
But this scene with the woman touching Jesus cloak is even more special….. the lady is marginalized…. she is poor… having spent everything she had to be healed…… she has no voice.. not place in society…. no right to speak up… no right to approach Jesus… so we see here quietly… without any rights trying to make contact with Jesus without causing any kind of stir… but… jesus immediately senses what has happened…… he turns to the lady to make it clear….. Jesus is not just like a lucky charm…. there must be a personal interaction with Jesus…although the touching of the garment did what the lady hoped… Jesus makes it clear that it is in relating to him that the truth belongs….. no true relationshiop with Jesus can be there unless we encounter the person of Jesus and not merely secondary aspects of him…… and further… jesus gives this anonymous woman an opportunity to step out of anonymity and be acknowledged… and related to…… she does deserve help and Jesus shows here that by speaking with her and affirming her faith and her actions.. this is truly amazing….. and wonderful… a second miracle…… (faith overcomes fear and gives you the dignity to stand with your head held high.. for all have dignity and a place in God’s eyes). (from Gustavo Gutierrez: Sharing the word through the Liturgical year).
I would also just like to point out the wonderful first reading…. the words are worth repeating.. it says
God did not make death,
nor does God rejoice in the destruction of the living.
For God fashioned all things that they might have being;
and the creatures of the world are wholesome,
………..For God formed (intended) humanity to be imperishable; (Wis
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States
If there was any doubt…this is a statement that Jesus, God, is pro-life. God does not ‘send’ illness and death to people… we know that these things are very much present in our world… but if we are to ask where is God in all this, God always stands on the side of life and dignity. God is at work willing life and vitality…not sowing seeds of destruction and pain…… at times we may be tempted to attribute something else to God.. when things go really wrong… but the truth is in the words of the first reading…
Finally… in the second reading.. Saint Paul Corinth
Jesus did this his whole life.. and is seen to be doing this in todays wonderful gospel..
Fr Paul
(with ideas from Gustavo Gutierrez: Sharing the word through the Liturgical year).
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