Here is a story of a mother and her little four-year-old daughter were getting ready to retire for the night.

 

The child was afraid of darkness.

The mother, alone with the child, felt a little fearful as well.

 

When the room lights were put off, the child caught a glimpse of the moon outside the window.

 

“Mother,” she asked with innocence, “is the moon, God’s light?”

 

“Yes, my child” said the mother “God’s light is always shining.”

 

 

The next doubt was, “Will God blow out His light and go to sleep?”

 

The mother smiled at her and replied, “No, my child. God never goes to sleep.”

 

Then out of a simplicity of a child’s faith she said that which gave reassurance to the fearful mother: “Well, so long as God is awake, I am not afraid!” 

 

 

The assurance that God was with them, made the little child courageous and strong!

 

ü A deep faith casts away every fear…

ü A strong belief puts aside every panic…

 

The Gospel of the Day is a wonderful journey, with Jesus, in this movement from “Fear” through “Faith”…

… Jairus, whose daughter was at the point of death, is led from the “fear of death and hopelessness” through “faith” to experience the miracle of restoration of life

… The woman with haemorrhage for twelve years is led from the “fear of shame and depression” through “faith” to experience the miracle of cleansing and wholeness of life.

 

 

The Gospel passage of the day is one of the many “sandwich” passages in the Gospel of St Mark.

 

“Sandwich” stories are a literary technique in which the narration of one story begins, but is interrupted by another story, before finishing the first one. 

 

Some of the examples of these “sandwich stories” are…

 

In Mk 3: 20-35, we have…

ü Mk 3:20-22: Jesus’ family members set out to seize Him

o Mk 3: 23-30: Jesus speaks to the Pharisees on their accusation of Him

ü Mk 3: 31-35: Jesus family comes to meet Him

 

In Mk 6: 7-33, we have…

ü Mk 6: 7-13: The disciples sent on a mission

o Mk 6: 14-29: Herod’s opinion on John the Baptist and the narrative of the beheading.

ü Mk 6: 30-33: The disciples return from the mission

 

In Mk 11: 12-25, we have…

ü Mk 11: 12-14: Jesus cursing the fig tree

o Mk 11: 15-19: Jesus cleansing the Temple

ü Mk 11: 20-24: Jesus’ teaching on the withered fig tree

 

In Mk 14: 1-11, we have…

ü Mk 14: 1-2: The Conspiracy against Jesus

o Mk 14: 3-9: The anointing of Jesus at Bethany

ü Mk 14: 10-11: The conspiracy plan by Judas to betray Jesus

 

Such kind of “sandwich” layers illustrates points for reflection by showing ..

… similarities and contrasts between the outside and the inside layers.

… the first and the last as “the bread”‘ and the centre one as the “filling” of the sandwich!

 

 

Today’s Gospel also follows this “sandwich-story” structure… Mk 5: 21-43

ü Mk 5: 21-24: Jesus is pleaded by Jairus to heal his daughter

o Mk 5: 25-34: The woman suffering from haemorrhage is healed

ü Mk 5: 35-43: Jesus heals the daughter of Jairus

 

There are many similarities and contrasts between the “bread” – the outside layers and the “filling” – the inside layers in this ‘sandwich’passage…

 

Age:

• Jairus’ daughter is 12 years

• The woman was suffering from haemorrhage for 12 years

 

Description of the Condition:

• Jairus’ daughter at the point of death

• The woman at the point of utter hopelessness

 

Status of the person:

• Jairus is the daughter of a ruler of the synagogue

• The woman with the problem of bleeding is an old widow

 

The support system for the suffering one:

• Jairus’ daughter has many people to mourn – to weep and wail loudly

• The widow is all alone in her suffering and agony

 

The place:

• Jairus’ daughter is in her room, in the house

• The woman with the haemorrhage is out on the crowded street

 

The mode of healing:

• Jairus’ daughter is healed with a word, “Talitha Koum”

• The suffering woman was healed by a “touch”

 

The title used by Jesus:

• Jairus’ daughter is called by Jesus as ‘Little Girl’

• The suffering woman is called by Jesus as ‘Daughter’

 

 

Some of the key messages of both these stories invite us to reflect on our own life…

 

• Emphasis on Faith

Jairus, the father of the sick child, as well as the suffering woman display a tremendous faith and trust in Jesus

 

ü Do I also put my trust and hope in the Lord, even when situations are “dead-like” and there seems no hope in life?

 

 

 

• Acts of humility

Jairus, as well as the suffering woman, make acts of humility, by falling at the feet of Jesus and pleading for mercy and help

 

ü Am I able to let go of my egoistic tendencies and be ready to fall at the feet of the Lord, seeking for His mercy, compassion and help?

 

 

• The Lord being in perfect control

Jairus, as well as the suffering woman experience the charismatic power and control that Jesus displays even when throngs of pain, suffering and death are surrounding him.

 

ü Do I realise that even if there are crowds of humiliation and shame around me or mourners of discouragement and despair wailing loudly in my life, the Lord is still in perfect charge, if I surrender and offer my life to His tremendous power?

 

 

The “sandwich stories” of the day are a great invitation for us to move from a “Life of Fear” to a “Life of Faith”, trusting and putting our hope in the Lord and in His Mighty Power.

 

It is to be also noted that after the cure of Jairus’ daughter, the Lord asked her parents to “give her something to eat” (Mk 5: 43)

 

This could also be a reminder for us, in our spiritual life, that after moving from a “Life of Fear” to a “Life of Faith”, we also need to sustain and nourish it by eating and consuming of the “Life of Fullness” in the Most Holy Eucharist!

 

Let us let go of every “Fear” in our lives, by having deeper “Faith” in the Lord and enjoying the “Fullness” of healing and happiness!

 

God Bless! Live Jesus!