In today's readings, we are reminded of the mysteries inherent in both the realities of life and death. The first reading from Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 reminds us that God did not create death, but rather, death entered the world through the envy of the devil. This is a powerful reminder that death is not the natural order of things, but rather a consequence of sin.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus healing a young girl who is on the brink of death. The story is a powerful reminder that Jesus is the one who has power over life and death. As he is walking to Jairus’ house to pray over the little girl, another one of his precious daughters approaches him. She has been suffering from a blood disease for many years and not all the doctors and medicine in the world could help her. Jesus already knew her from all eternity, but when she touches the hem of his garment, he stops walking as healing energy issued out of him and healed her instantaneously. Her faith in Jesus saved her from this malicious illness she had battled for many years. What have we been struggling with for many years? Let us each think. Now, give it to Jesus. He alone can help you with that struggle to fully overcome it. Jesus then proceeds to raise the young girl (Talitha, which means “little girl”.. in Maltese we have “tifla” and to say “get up in Maltese” we say, “Qum”… the evangelist, retaining the original ancient Aramaic which most scholars agree Jesus would have spoken, records Jesus’ exact words: “Talitha, kum” and she immediately awakens from the dead. These miracles are a sign that Jesus is the Son of God, who has power over all things.
But again, what does this have to do with us if we ourselves do not place our trust in him? Jesus heals us a lot of times, for many reasons known to him alone, but sometimes it’s because he still needs us to participate in his mission to help others on their way to heaven.
The second reading from 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15 reminds us that our lives are meant to be lived for others. Paul is urging the Corinthians to show their love for Jesus by showing their love for others. He says that as they have been enriched in every way in Christ, they should be willing to share this newly found heavenly wealth with those who are in need.
This is a call to us all to examine our own lives and to ask ourselves how we are using our time, talent, and treasure to serve others. Are we using our resources to benefit ourselves or to benefit others? Are we willing to sacrifice our own desires for the sake of others?
The story of Jairus' daughter reminds us that life is precious and fleeting. We never know when our time on this earth will come to an end. But in Christ, we have hope. We have hope that we will be raised from the dead and given eternal life, because for those who have believed in him, death is not the end, but merely the moment of passage. This is where we get the word “paschal” from… the Paschal mystery, means the “Passover” or “transition” from this life to the next.
As we go about our daily lives, let us remember that we are not just individuals living for ourselves, but rather members of a community living for each other. Let us strive to use our lives to serve others and to bring them closer to God. And let us have faith that in Christ, we will be raised from the dead and given eternal life.
In his famous Canticle of the Creatures, the saint from Assisi wrote “Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape.” That line, written near Francis's own embrace of Sister Bodily Death, reflects the importance and natural character of death in the life of all creation—that God has allowed for it, even if he hasn’t willed it, so as to be the conduit to eternal life with him. What is the consequence of sin, through Christ’s death, becomes the passage to eternal life. This is a sublime and perhaps the deepest example we have of how God can take something evil, and from it bring about a good, and the greatest good for us, is eternal beatitude with him.
The story of Talitha, the little girl, is our story, for we are all his precious children whom he has destined for an eternity with him, but it is not one which he imposes on us, but rather an eternity he wishes us to embrace by the choices we make, much like the woman with the hemorrhage who decides to seek Jesus for salvation. So too, if in our lives we seek Jesus continuously and build a solid relationship with him, he will recognize us, heal us, and ultimately grant us eternal life. Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, pray for us.
Add comment
Comments