Mk 5:21‐43
The Gospel reading today is a literary style called ‘inclusion’ – one event is contained inside another. There are two miracles that are made to look like just one event because they are contained in a single storyline. The first miracle is about the healing of the sick daughter of Jairus, a synagogue official. And while Jesus was on the way to the house to heal the girl, a woman with chronic hemorrhages gets healed when she touched the hem of His garment.
These two miracles bring into focus the lesson on hope. With Jesus, there is always hope for salvation, even in the most hopeless situations. With Jesus, it is never too late for those who have indomitable faith and trust. After all, with Jesus, nothing is impossible.
If we put ourselves in the shoes of either of these two characters in the story – Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman – we may be tempted to think that everything is too late. Jairus has already received the news that his daughter has just died. How can she be healed when she is already dead? Perhaps he must have silently blamed the woman for causing undue delay to Jesus. For her part, the woman must have already been convinced that she cannot be cured anymore. Twelve years of suffering this ailment is enough indication that her case is hopeless.
But, fortunately, both of them did not give up. Jesus encouraged the grieving father: “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” Despite all the proofs of death in front of his eyes, Jairus believed the words of the Lord. His daughter was raised back to life. On the other hand, the woman, pinning her last strand of hope on Jesus, mustered all her courage to come near Him: “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” And she was healed, even without Jesus noticing her. And the Lord acknowledged her extraordinary faith: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
When things seem hopeless, we just hold on to faith in Jesus. We do not need to do anything else – only believe. He has His own plan and timetable for everything. We just need to trust Him completely. He is never late.
This fact is abundantly illustrated all throughout the Gospels. It was not too late for the son of the widow of Naim whose dead body was about to be buried. It was not too late for Lazarus who was already four days dead and buried. It was not too late for the woman with the hemorrhage, for the blind men, for the leper, for the paralytic and many others who were touched by the healing hands of Jesus. And He offers not only physical healing, but, more importantly, forgiveness and salvation as well. It was not too late for the Prodigal Son, for the Good Thief, for Saul of Tarsus, for St. Augustine and for countless sinners called to conversion and new life.
God cannot be late! Hope always abounds for one who puts complete trust in God. St. John of the Cross gives the following words of encouragement: “Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.”