Why this weeping? The child is asleep

Gospel of the Day (Luke 2:22-40)

When Jesus had crossed again (in the boat) to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.

One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, "My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live."

He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him.

There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years.

She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse.

She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.

She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured."

Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?"

But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'"

And he looked around to see who had done it.

The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction."

While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"

Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid; just have faith."

He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.

When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.

So he went in and said to them, "Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep."

And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was.

He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"

The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. (At that) they were utterly astounded.

He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

***

Reflections:

"Why this weeping? The child is asleep"

«When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said: 'Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.' And they ridiculed him.» Jesus teaches us in this way not to fear death since death is death no more: from now on it is only a sleep. And he prepares his disciples, by raising others, to put their trust in him and not be alarmed by his death as he himself was about to die. For ever since Christ's coming, death is no more than a sleep.

However, they ridiculed him. But he was not indignant at this refusal of trust in the miracle he was about to carry out; he did not condemn their smiles, so that the smiles themselves, along with the flutes and other preparations, should confirm the little girl's death. Seeing the musicians and the crowd, then, Jesus sent them all out. He accomplished this miracle in the presence of her parents... as though awakening her from sleep...

It is clear that death is now no more than a sleep. Today it is a truth that shines more brightly than the sun. «But,» you say, «Christ did not raise my child!» Yes, but he will raise him up and with even greater glory. Because this little girl whose life he restored died again, whereas your child, when he has raised him up again, will abide forever. So let no one weep any more, let no one groan, no one criticize Christ's work. For he has conquered death. Why are you weeping useless tears? Death has become a sleep: why do you moan and weep?