13th Sunday of Year (B) : Homily / Sermon

The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. (Mark 5:42)

There is more than one account in the Gospels of Jesus apparently raising someone from the dead.

The most famous tale of course, and much the longest, is the story of the raising of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and of Martha in St John’s Gospel. We also hear of the raising of the adult son of the widow of a place called Nain, in a short account in St Luke’s Gospel. And today, in St Mark’s Gospel (and also Matthew and Luke) there is the story of the raising of the 12 year old daughter of Jairus.

To modern mind, these might appear fanciful stories - wonder-working on extra-ordinary scale. And as people may say to us “things like this just don’t happen”. And others may note as well, that there could be an ordinary medical explanation for these persons returning to life - after all, even in the present day, there are cases of people thought to be dead, yet who were in fact in some kind of coma.

But these interpretations, so ready to dismiss the Gospel, take little heed of what we are actually told.

First of all, the is no drama, no fireworks, no thunderbolt or voices from heaven. especially in this particular story. The onlookers, the family, are told to keep quiet, not to publicise what has happened

Secondly, the focus of the story is not so much on the person who had died and who returns to life, but upon the families, the bereaved. In Luke’s Gospel it is the distraught widow that Jesus appeals to. In John, we hear words of the sisters Martha and Mary, but not of Lazarus himself. And here today, we known the name of the girls father, Jairus, and his position in society, but no name or words from the girl herself.

And thirdly, the stories are not really miracle stories, but stories of faith, and comfort in distress, and trust in God. Before Jesus ever raises Lazarus, he weeps for him. While the Widow mourns her son, Jesus comforts and reassures here. And when messengers tell Jairus not to waste Jesus’ time with his sorrows, Jesus states plainly, in as many words: “You are not wasting my time. Let me come to your home.”

So this story, these stories, are not only about what happened then, but what they mean to us now. They present the message of comfort in our darkest hours, reassurance of the presence of Christ even when we may feel he is so far away, and knowledge of his compassion when we seems lost and alone.

Prayer of St Teresa of Avila

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing:
But God never changes.
Patience gains all things
With God you lack nothing;
All you need is God.