4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured. 

So often, we judge by appearances. We focus on how people look and draw a conclusion about their need for God. We even think about ourselves in a similar way!

In today’s Gospel, the two people who came to see Jesus could not have looked more different. One was wealthy, influential, and a respected leader of the synagogue. The other was an outcast, sick, and deemed ritually unclean (Mark 5:22, 25-26). Yet they both found themselves in a strikingly similar position: suffering and in need of help. What can we learn from these two people as they sought out Jesus?

We may experience seasons when life is challenging, and we feel discouraged, much like the suffering woman. Maybe we have exhausted all other options and are losing hope that God cares about our pain. At these moments, we can remember the woman’s perseverance and tenacity as she pushed her way through the crowds to reach out to Jesus. We can trust that God does hear our cries. He will give us the strength we need.

In other seasons, we may appear to have it all together. Life may be going great, our parish is thriving, and our family life is fulfilling. However, Jairus serves as a sobering reminder that no matter how secure we may feel, our lives remain fragile. No matter what we look like, we all need God’s tender care. Comfort or wealth can blind us to that need. Jairus came to a realization of his need amid tragedy, but his need for Christ was no less after his daughter was healed. So it is for us: even when everything appears secure, we still need Jesus. We need his love, his care, and his presence.

Jairus and the hemorrhaging woman sought out Jesus because of the circumstances in their lives. They needed him that day by the Sea of Galilee, and they would always need him. And so will we. This is why Jesus came.

Whatever your current circumstances, go to the Lord today and confess your need for him. In that honest place, he will always meet you.

“Father, I need you. I know that if I reach out my hand to you, you will lift me up.”

2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30–19:3
Psalm 86:1-6
Mark 5:21-43