talitha koum

2 Samuel 18:9-19:3; Ps 86 Listen, Lord, and answer me; Mark 5:21-43

Today we celebrate the memorial of John Bosco. HE was a priest in the 19th century who started the Salesian order, the apostolate to the youth.

HE was tireless in his activity to seek souls and bring them to Christ.

A quote, "Do good while there is still time."


Now for the gospel.

We have the story of the woman who had been afflicted for 12 years. The gospel tells us that she suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and she was not helped but only grew worse.

She was desperate. She was in a bad way in need of something, some kind of hope, some kind of cure, some kind of consolation. She was desperate and on the verge of destitution.



She heard about Jesus, the gospel writer relays to us.

Stop there for a moment. If she heard about Jesus, that means that someone was talking about him. Some one was busy spreading the news.

Imagine the conversation, 'rumor has it that this man can heal the sick.'

Do we spread the news? Do we talk about Jesus? Do we give Jesus the time? Perhaps we should gossip about JEsus to others and let them in on the secret about his power working in our life.

She gets the courage to sneak up behind JEsus to touch him. She doesn't want to be a bother. She doesn't want to be noticed. She just wants to be healed already.

Immediately upon the touch, she is cured and Jesus knows power has gone out of him.

But notice what the disciples say, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?"

What was different about this woman's touch then all the others? She wasn't the only one trying to grab Jesus, to get near him, to touch him, to experience wholeness. Yet, her touch was different; her reaching out had a greater meaning than the rest.

This is where we should meditate today. We should think about that touch of the woman as she reached to touch Christ, just his clothes and nothing more.

What made her touch release the power of Christ so that healing could be given?

The words of JEsus ring true to us as an invitation, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

The reach of faith of the woman sent her life win a new direction. It altered her lifestyle.

When have we touched someone in faith?

OF course the gospel doesn't end there. Jesus still has work to do. The synagogue's official was still waiting, his daughter was still in need.

Upon his arrival, the crowd ridicules JEsus, because of question their great commotion and told them that the girl was not dead but merely asleep.

Jesus unhindered by the crowd who was weeping, goes to the girl.

"Talitha Koum, Little girl, I say to you arise."


Arise she did.

Take some time today to spend with this gospel passage. Enter into it. Be with JEsus as he comes to be with those in need, to be with us in need.