The Gospel of Mark, chapter 5:36

In the gospel of Mark, chapter five, Jesus encounters two people who trusted in him: Jairus, a synagogue official and a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years. Trust is another word for faith and it implies a personal commitment to someone. This someone in today’s gospel is Jesus whom Jairus and the woman trusted.

For the Christian, is true to say, “where there’s faith, there is life.” If we are looking for signs of life in a given situation, then, we must first look for signs of faith for faith leads to life. In a sense, life springs from faith and faith breeds life. The faith of Jairus and the woman in Jesus saved them.

Veiled in this Gospel story, however, is the powerful faith of Jesus Himself. Jesus’ faith in his Father and in His own mission underlies today’s gospel. He does not hesitate when approached by Jairus and the woman. Even when harbingers of death berate Him and His mission, Jesus’ faith is unwavering. When touched by the woman, He shares His faith with her. He announces her healing and her salvation for all to see. Finally, when Jesus reaches the daughter of Jairus, He proves His faith by saving the life of the girl: “little girl, get up.”

Jesus’ faith withstands and overcomes all the disbelief He encounters. His faith is a model for our own. Life is filled with doomsayers, like those who ridiculed Jesus. He shows us the meaning and the necessity of grounding ourselves in trust. So grounded, that we can remain faithful and become life-givers.

Often we feel that our faith is too weak, too filled with questions, never pure enough. Such pickiness makes us afraid of faith or tells us that it is presumptions to ask God for what we need. But seeking, questioning, and asking God is all operations of faith and the faithful person.

The God of life is revealed even in our feeblest attempts to live faith-filled lives. So, go ahead-ask, trust and be saved.

Fr. Hugh Duffy