Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Oftentimes, I wonder how anyone in the New Testament could have thought that Jesus was anyone but God. Other times, like today’s Gospel (Mark 5:21-43), I understand how some of the things Jesus said could be considered off-putting. I sympathize with the guests at Jairus’ house, but ultimately I don’t think it’s right to follow their example.
Consider the scene Mark paints for us at Jairus’ house. His daughter has died. There are a whole collection of folks weeping at the loss of this twelve-year-old girl. The atmosphere around the entire building is somber as people begin to process and grapple with their grief – death is never easy, and for many, the death of a child is even more difficult. The father also isn’t present, as he’s gone seeking a teacher hoping he can help, so someone sends for Jairus to tell him it’s too late, don’t waste the teacher’s time. It’s time for Jairus to come home and grieve with his loved ones. Neither of the Gospel accounts of this story (Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:41-56) mention Jairus’ reaction in that moment, and they don’t have to. Undoubtedly, his heart sank into his stomach as a mix of guilt and fear take him over – this father who sought healing for his daughter couldn’t be present as she passed, and now he’s standing helpless before a stranger when he should have been home with his family.
Jesus responds by instructing Jairus not to be afraid - have faith (Mark 5:36), and takes off for Jairus’s house. This doesn’t seem like the most compassionate of responses. Nor does asking “Why this commotion and weeping? This child is not dead but asleep.” (Mark 5:39) The ridicule of those at Jairus’ house almost feels justified as a response – almost as if they’re saying to Jesus “stop pretending like this situation can be helped, and leave us to mourn on our own.” If the rest of this story played out like the guests would have expected, Jesus’ responses would be a major turn-off from following Him. But we know, of course, that things don’t go the expected direction. Jesus goes to wake Jairus’ daughter, and rather than appearing like a fool because she’s dead, she gets up and Jesus calls for her to have something to eat.
How often do we respond to our fear, guilt, and despair the same way Jairus’ guests do? How often do we turn inwards during the most painful times in our lives and decide not to bother anyone, least of all God, by seeking help? We say “leave us alone so we can deal with ourselves, there’s nothing else that can be done. Don’t waste your time.” All the while, God is telling us the opposite, and often the thing we least want to hear. The instruction to “just have faith” is frustrating when we’re convinced nothing can be done. It feels either glib, fake, or like misplaced hope. The temptation to leave faith at the door and leave the teacher alone is strong, but we cannot let it prevail. God likely isn’t going to reverse our situation and make it like it was before, but through our faith, we can be truly consoled and grow in understanding of God in the process.
In the face of our most difficult moments, let us be like Jairus, and resist the temptation to be like his guests. Let us respond to despair and pain with faith, and may we never decide it’s better to “leave the teacher alone.”
-Marty Bagatti