Theme: God the Father loves his children.
Scripture: 2 Sam 18:9-10,14b, 24-25a, 30:; 19:3; Psalm 86:1-2,3-4,5-6; Mk. 5:21-43
We heard the death of Absalom, the son of David in the first reading. Some background will help us to understand the death of Absalom. Absalom was David’s third son from Macaah, daughter of Talmai. Absalom was handsom. He had long hair. He also had a beautiful sister called Tamar. Absalom’s half-brother, Amnon fell in love with Tamar. He raped her and left her in disgrace. Absalom waited for two years to take revenge. He called all his brothers and sisters for festival one day. He killed his brother Amnon and fled into the northern region. Although he returned to David in Jerusalem but began to conspire against his own father. He sent messengers to proclaim his kingship. He plotted to kill his father. As a result of this, David and his army fled Jerusalem.
David did everything to show his love to Absalom. He spared him when he killed his half-brother. He also missed him when he ran away. He gladly received him in Jerusalem after his return. He fled Jerusalem when Absalom revolted against him without wagging war against him. He warned his army not to harm him. David mourned for his son. He wanted to die instead of Absalom. He repeatedly called Absalom “my son” for five times. It shows how much David cared for his son.
We find in the Gospel too Jesus is showing the love of Father. There are two daughters mentioned in today’s text; a woman afflicted with hemorrhages and Jairus’ daughter. Notice parallel: 12 years old sickness of blood hemorrhage and 12 years old girl who is dying. A woman who suffered from hemorrhages was socially and ceremonially unclean (Lev 15). If she touched anyone, she made that person unclean. She lived in a hopeless situation. Many doctors failed to cure her. She had spent all her savings. She had become poor. She was made outcast in her own family. Nobody eat her food. Nobody used her belongings. (We notice these things in Indian culture till this date.) Her situation had become worse. By touching the fringe of Jesus’ garment, she was healed. What a faith she had in Jesus! Jesus called her daughter. Jesus also healed Jairus’ daughter whom everyone thought that she was already dead. It is said that she was 12 years old. It was important to note that at the age of 12 years, the girls were accountable to keep the law. It is called Bar mitzvah. The person took part in rituals. It was an age of majority. She had rights. She was considered to be dead. Jewish laws did not allow them to touch the dead body. ( Num 19) Jesus took her hand and made her arise. Jesus re-instated both the daughters into their family, community and in the worship. He gave them new life. Jesus showed them the love of God the Father.
In the first reading, King David showed us the true love of a father. In the Gospel, Jairus showed us his love for his daughter. We need to think; if our earthly fathers can love us so much then how much more the Heavenly Father can love us. St. John tells in his Gospel, “For God, Our Heavenly Father (emphasis added) so loved the world that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16) Jesus the Son of God has revealed to us the Heavenly Father and His love for us. He has taught us to call him ‘Our Father’. We have confidence to address to Our Heavenly Father in all our needs. Let us come before Him in confidence like the woman in hemorrhage and Jairus, the official of synagogue.
Awesome
Thanks for sending