Tag Archives: reflection

Jairus’ daughter; David’s son

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"The raising of Jairus' daughter" by Edwin Long

Click here for today’s Scripture readings.

2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a
Matthew 18: 1-5

No funeral is sadder than that of a young child.  The death of someone who has barely tasted life seems like a broken promise and a reversal of the natural order.  Parents should not outlive their children.  And yet today’s readings present us with parents who were in that position.

The gospel tells of a little girl stricken by a virulent fever.  There was nothing like penicillin in Jesus’ day.  Her parents’ only hope for the child’s recovery is for a miracle and so they send for Jesus.  Word quickly follows that the girl is dead, but Jesus does what every grieving person yearns for:  he reverses the loss.  He takes the little girl’s hand.  The phrase “Talitha koum” literally means, “Little lamb, arise”.  This miracle is not just a spectacular show of divine power; it is a demonstration of Jesus’ tender affection for the child and compassion for her parents.

In our first reading, the stricken parent is David.  But his son Absalom is not a young, nor an innocent, child.  Father and son have long been alienated.   In fact Absalom is at the head of an armed rebellion that has driven David, the king, into exile.  You might think David would be relieved to have him out of the picture – but, at word of his death, he reacts as a father, not as an enemy.  We hear his poignant cry that echoes the cry of every bereaved parent, “Why him and not me?”

We can understand the feelings of both these parents because we are all children of God.  God made us in his image and likeness – and not only did he create us out of nothing – he redeemed us of our sins.  And not by some extraneous metaphysical earth-shattering display of his almighty power –  but by his love and compassion when he gave us his own beloved Son who laid down his life for us.   Only God has a heart big enough to be so generous.  As we gather around his altar let us give thanks that he loves us so much and strive ourselves to be as loving and compassionate to others.

- Fr. Damian Towey, CP is a member of the community at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center,North Palm Beach,Florida.

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Reconciling Practice

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2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13
Mk 5:1-20

Both the Old Testament and the Gospel reading for today reflect situations of conflict and alienation within a family. The story of David and Absalom is one of the classic tragedies of the Bible. In today’s passage we see David and his loyal followers on the run, as his son Absalom is consolidating power and moving to overthrow the rule of his father. The great king is humiliated by a distant relative of the former king Saul, who mocks David with the claim that God has transferred his kingdom to Absalom. We know that this saga of family conflict will end with David weeping inconsolably after Absalom is killed in battle: “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!”

The demoniac who confronts Jesus is a tormented man who is isolated from everyone, including his family. Mark tells us that “night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides, he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones.” This man may well have been afflicted by a severe form of mental illness. He is an outcast, excluded from human contact with family members and everyone else; he is someone from whom others keep their distance out of fear. But in the presence of Jesus, and at his word, this tormented man finds peace. Jesus instructs him, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”

I have a close, very beloved relative who lives with mental illness. She strives mightily to live as normal a life as possible and to build healthy relationships with other people. But sometimes her illness makes that difficult. It can cause her to feel isolated from family and friends, and it sometimes causes conflict within the family. People with mental illness face a rough road: they struggle with a condition that is so often misunderstood and stigmatized in our society. And their illness sometimes strains relationships with the very people upon whom they depend for support.

Whether it is due to the condition of mental illness or some other cause, we know well that family conflict is rampant in our society. Time and again, the Gospels assure us that the presence and word of Jesus lead to reconciliation. His presence drives away the “unclean spirits” that often inhabit us and damage our relationships. This is not a magic formula, for Jesus’ presence invites our cooperation with his grace, calling us to be people of reconciling practice. And the work of reconciliation can be daunting at times, requiring steadfast commitment to restore communication and heal past hurts. But we can make the effort to be reconciling people with trust in Christ’s faithful presence to us. It is his powerful presence that is the source of our peace and of healing for relationships that are broken.

- Fr. Robin Ryan, C.P.

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Human Dignity and the Law

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1 Sm 16:1-13
Mk 2:23-28

Jesus finds himself at odds, once again, with the Pharisees.  Now the Pharisees are well versed in the laws of the Sabbath and Jesus actions are clearly contrary to the percepts of this law.  However, Jesus reminds them of what is written in the book of Samuel regarding David and his soldiers. Of course, the Pharisees would be quite familiar with this passage where David and his companions came to the Temple hungry from their journey.  Since the only bread available was the sacred bread which was to be eaten only by the temple priests, they were allowed to partake of it because of their need.

The response Jesus makes to the Pharisees in today’s gospel reading: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” is an extraordinary statement which must have infuriated them.    What Jesus was saying to them and to us is that whenever a conflict arises between the good of a human person and the law, the demands of the law must yield to the needs of the human person.  Whether the law has been set by the state or holy institutions, the dignity of the human person surpasses by far the dignity of the organization.  These laws do not exist for their own sake but for the sake of human beings.  Additionally, the purpose of the laws of holy institutions, are to bring people into communion with God.

The dignity of the human person is so revered that John Paul II described Christianity as “an attitude of amazement before the dignity of the human person.”

Lord, grant us the grace to exercise your gift of wisdom in the way we treat others in personal and institutional matters.  May our decisions result from the same mercy that you have shown to us.

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Anthony, one of the desert fathers of the early Church, who led an exemplary life of radical faith in God.   He was sought out by Greek philosophers who had stories of miraculous healings brought about by Anthony’s intercession.  When they inquired about his wisdom regarding truth and Christianity, he said to them “If you think me wise become what I am for I am a Christian.”

- Alice Smith has been a part of Holy Family’s women’s retreat ministry for many years. She lives with her husband on Cape Cod.

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