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| "The Daughter of Jairus," by J. Tissot. Brooklyn Museum / Public Domain. |
Even without his choosing to save the woman in the crowd from her long-standing ailment, Christ was already filled with godly power and will to save.
The power of the woman's faith touched God's saving will and power.
The woman who got herself healed thought the power was all in Christ.
However, it was not Christ who chose to reach out and touch her.
He did not know she was reaching out to touch his clothing from behind him.
He knew at once that power had gone out from him, but he also knew it was because power had gone out from the woman, the power of her faith.
He said to her, "Daughter, YOUR FAITH has saved you."
While he was still speaking, the message came that the daughter of Jairus had died.
Christ straightaway asked Jairus for the power of faith: Do not be afraid; just have FAITH.
Jairus, wielding the power of his own faith, went to his dead daughter with Christ.
Going with Jairus, Christ wielded the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord the Giver of Life.
Armed with both the faith of Jairus and the power of the Holy Spirit, the will, the voice and the hand of Christ brought the dead girl back to life.
The faith of Jairus made Jairus into a sign and instrument of the heavenly Father for his earthly daughter.
By the will of the heavenly Father with the willing faith of Jairus the earthly father, and by the work of the Holy Spirit, Christ gave back life to the dead girl.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit-- the saving fullness of God is at the disposal of the faith of earthly men and women.
Here in our celebration of the Gospel and the Eucharistic Body and Blood of Christ, the fullness of God-- Father, Son and Holy Spirit-- the saving fullness of God is at our disposal.
Here through the Gospel and the Eucharist, God tells us what he told the dead girl: I say to you, arise!
What answer, what life-giving obedience will we let our lives give to the Lord's saving power?
The power of faith is in our hands.
