Presence

“The world is charged with the grandeur of God.” (Gerard Manley Hopkins)
I dwell for a moment on the presence of God around me,
in every part of my body,
and deep within my being.

Freedom

Lord, I pray for Your gift of freedom.
May Your Holy Spirit
guide those in power to work for
true justice for all Your people.

Consciousness

I ask how I am within myself today.
Am I particularly tired, stressed, or off-form?
If any of these characteristics apply,
can I try to let go of the concerns that disturb me?

The Word of God

²¹When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea. ²²Then one of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet ²³and pleaded with him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” ²⁴So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him.

²⁵Now there was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years. ²⁶She had endured much under many physicians and had spent all that she had, and she was no better but rather grew worse. ²⁷She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸for she said, “If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.” ²⁹Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. ³⁰Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my cloak?” ³¹And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” ³²He looked all around to see who had done it. ³³But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. ³⁴He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

³⁵While he was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” ³⁶But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” ³⁷He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. ³⁸When they came to the synagogue leader’s house, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. ⁴¹Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” ⁴²And immediately the girl stood up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. ⁴³He strictly ordered them that no one should know this and told them to give her something to eat.

Inspiration

Unlike the centurion who said, ‘Say but the word and my servant will be cured,’ Jairus wants Jesus to come and lay his hands on his dying daughter and Jesus goes with him. Our God, in his compassion, accepts that we can only pray with whatever faith we have at each moment. Let us ask God to increase our faith as we ask, ‘Lord, I believe. Help Thou my unbelief.’ 

Shakespeare wrote, ‘Our little life is rounded with a sleep’. For those who die in Christ a reawakening into a new life awaits. Here, we see Jesus' gentleness as he gives their little daughter back to her distraught parents and reminds them to give her something to eat. Jesus said, ‘Come to me … for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’ 

Conversation

Jesus often asked questions of those who came to Him.
Let me sense Him close to me now,
listening to my prayer and asking
“How can I help you?”
“What can I give you?”
“What do you need?”

Conclusion

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Amen