“Talitha Koum”

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

By Melanie Rigney

For the sake of the joy that lay before him Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.  (Hebrews 12:2-4)

They will praise you, Lord, who long for you. (Psalms 22:27b)

(Jesus entered the room where the synagogue official’s child, believed dead, was lying.) 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 rose 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. (Mark 5:41-43)

Piety

Lord, help me to understand that no one on this earth is beyond redemption in You.

Study

She was dead, the synagogue official’s daughter. They all knew it. And perhaps more than a few people wondered why Jesus along the way stopped long enough to interact with the hemorrhage-afflicted woman who touched his cloak and was cured. If only Jesus had stayed on point, had simply ignored the woman’s touch, had remained focused on the gravely ill little girl, perhaps she could have been saved. But now, it was too late.

Except that it wasn’t.

Jesus took her hand, instructed her to rise, and so she did.

Consider the people you know you have all but given up for dead: family members or friends who have fallen away from an active faith life. People who are rude and abrasive and inconsiderate. People who you know are committing sins every single solitary day of their lives and who don’t seem the least bit remorseful for those wrongs. Interactions with these folks tend to end up with even harder feelings on one side or the other, and it’s too late to do anything about it.

Except that it’s not.

Pray for them. Be kind to them. Believe in the possibility of their redemption. Because the Lord believes in them… and in you and your desire to serve Him.

Action

Offer a rosary, time with the Blessed Sacrament, or your other prayer time for the day to the person on earth who is the most dead to you. Ask Jesus to help him or her arise.