As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening

Transfiguration icon by Theophanes the Greek, late 14th century

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.  As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.  And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.  Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles:  one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said.  While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.  And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son.  Hear Him!"  When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone.  But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

- Luke 9:28-36

Yesterday we read that as Jesus was alone praying, His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"  So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."  He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"  Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."  And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day."  Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.  But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God."

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.   The number eight mentioned here, is significant spiritually, and particularly in light of the fact that it is the Transfiguration that is going to take place before these three disciples who form Jesus' inner circle.  Eight is the number of the Resurrection.  It signifies eternity, as we say the new day of Resurrection is the eighth day.   Previous to the Resurrection, worship for the Jews was on the Sabbath, which was the seventh day, Saturday.  The new Sabbath is the Lord's Day, the eighth day, Sunday.  To be up on the mountain is frequently a place of divine revelation in Scripture.

As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.  The whole character of this experience is the great light that transforms or "transfigures" everything.  It is a revelation of the divinity of Jesus.  My study bible tells us that because God is light (1 John 1:5), all the elements that reflect a light inexplicable by worldly standards demonstrate that Jesus is God.  In some icons, this light is shown with a blue hue, depicting an ineffable color, showing its spiritual origin.  We note that the appearance of His face was altered; this is a revelation of a transcendent truth, something more than what the purely worldly can reveal.

And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  Moses and Elijah represent all of the spiritual history that has led to this time of the Messiah, the Christ.  Moses represents the law and all those who have died.  Elijah represents the prophets and, as he did not experience death (see 2 Kings 2:9-12).  My study bible says that their presence shows that the law and the prophets, all the living and the dead, bear witness to Jesus as the Messiah, the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament.  Importantly, Christ speaks to Moses and Elijah of His decease which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.  In the Greek, the word translated as decease is "exodus."  This incident foreshadows the Resurrection, the time of glory when as the Messiah He will usher in the long-awaited Kingdom.

But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.  Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles:  one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said.  The disciples, after struggling from sleep, saw His glory.  Let us remember another moment when Peter and those with were heavy with sleep:  in the garden at Gethsemane, Jesus' time of great agony, when He also asked these to watch with Him (Matthew 26:36-46).  Peter's seemingly disconnected remark is coming from his understanding that he's witness to what prefigures the coming of the Kingdom.  Tabernacles (or tents) were built for the feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot, or the Feast of the Coming Kingdom) which commemorates Israel's time of wandering in the wilderness toward the Promised Land, worshiping in the tabernacle and living in impermanent dwellings.

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.  And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son.  Hear Him!"  When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone.  But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.   The very presence of the Kingdom of God is indicated as well in the cloud, such as overshadowed the tabernacle of Moses and led the Israelites is a visible sign of God being extraordinarily present.   The voice of God the Father proclaiming His beloved Son and that all should Hear Him!   The present tense used here:  This is My beloved Son, is a further indication of the eternal quality of this experience and of the Kingdom, and that Christ is Son before all ages.  The glory radiating around them in the presence of the holy light  is Christ's by nature, God's energy. 

God's energies are revealed to Peter, James, and John.  That is, these divine energies that are extraordinarily present in Christ.  This moment will give them strength for what is to come, as the text continually reminds us.  Indeed, this moment is tied to Jesus' suffering on the Cross, which He calls His "hour of glory" (John 12:23).  Although it is here that His glory is evident to the disciples, as the divine light is radiant around them and through all of the elements present, even Jesus' clothing, it is the time of the Cross that Jesus calls His glorification.  But we have this moment with us, one of divine revelation, to teach us about Christ -- who He is, what He is, the nature of His divinity.  What are God's energies?  Perhaps we are to understand that this radiant extraordinary light is always present, but we are not equipped to perceive it.  Certainly we are to know, and confess in faith that Christ has always been the Beloved Son of God, begotten before all ages.  He does not become Son because of His ministry and mission.  Rather, the truth is the opposite:  this ministry and mission as one of us, His suffering and death as one of us, comes because He is the Son.  It comes because the world is so beloved of God that Christ was sent to us (John 3:16).   A hallmark of the nature of God shared among the Trinity is surely love (1 John 4:8).   In this is perhaps the greatest truth about Jesus' time among us, the accomplishment of His "decease" which He calls His hour of glory, as His sacrifice is a supreme act of love in order that we may have the eternal life He can give us.  His mission as human being into our world isn't simply to reveal His glory to us as God.  Rather, it's just the opposite:  His glory is revealed in His love for us, in the sacrifice and suffering He voluntarily makes out of love for us.  This is what our faith offers us.  It surely offers us all of the glory and grandeur and power and otherworldliness associated with the divine everywhere.  But it offers us one thing deeper, truer, grander:  it offers us love as the ultimate character of God -- a love which is guaranteed to be always extraordinarily present, which has been present before all ages and always will be.  This is a love so pure that it will experience even death for those upon whom it is bestowed, even if they should refuse that love.  Christ is true to His own nature, and His hour of glory reveals the fullness of that nature.  He offers to share His nature with us, if we "follow Him."   Let us consider the fullness of what that might look like, and the holiness of the saints.  Its learning curve has an eternal horizon, and grace and truth is its cup.  The Transfiguration is titled "Metamorphosis" in Greek.  Let us remember that this radiant example is for all of us to understand about ourselves.  Our lives are not meant to be stagnant; we exchange one reality for another.  This glory is reflected in our cross we take up daily, as He has said (see yesterday's reading, above).  It is the way to grow in the fullness of His likeness.

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone -- however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks -- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"  Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

- John 6:16-27

Yesterday we read that after all things that happened at the Feast of Weeks (or the Old Testament Pentecost, fifty days after Passover),  Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberius.  Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with his disciples.  Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near.  Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"  Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."  Now there was much grass in the place.  So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.  So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.  Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."  Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum.  And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.  Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.  So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.  But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."  Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.  This is the fifth sign of the seven recorded by John.  Again we note the parallels to the story of the first Passover and Exodus of Israel in chapter 6 of John's Gospel.  Here we recall the story of Moses leading the people across the Red Sea.  They walked on dry ground in the midst of the water (Exodus 14:15-31).  But here, Christ sends His disciples across the sea and then He walks on the sea as if it were dry ground. 

On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone -- however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks -- when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?"  Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."     Once again there is a parallel here to Exodus.  In the Exodus, God fed His people manna and gave them drink from a miraculous source of water (Exodus 16:1-17:7).  But here, Christ declares that He Himself is the true food and drink, the true bread that has come down from heaven.  Once again, as in yesterday's reading (see above), the people want to make Jesus their king, but this time Jesus tells them they desire a lesser thing that what it is that He offers to them.  My study bible comments that all the parallels to Exodus in this chapter show that Christ our God is the fulfillment of the old covenant, and that the breaking of His body and shedding of His blood, which free human beings from the slavery or sin, fulfill the sacrifice of the Passover lambs (1:29), which brought hte people out of slavery into the Promised Land.  Here the true Promised Land is the Kingdom of which Jesus speaks. 

Jesus tells the crowds (and hence, He's telling us), "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."   This opens up for us a really important question.  What do we "labor" for?  What do we work for?  What are our true goals in life?  Obviously, Jesus does not tell us that we should starve to death -- why would He have fed five thousand people in the wilderness if God doesn't know that we need food to live?  That is not the point here!  The point is what we consider a true goal as fullness of life, and the quality of the life that we need and want for ourselves.  A few readings back, we discussed the term "work" in Greek, and how it's related to "energy."  (Work is ἐργάζομαι/ergazomai, and energy is based on the same root; it's energeia/ἐνέργεια -- which is actually translated as "working" in the Bible.)  So what do we "work" for?  What do we put our energy and strength into?  What is the most important thing?  Jesus will teach, in the very next verses in tomorrow's reading, that to work the work of God is to have faith in Christ (6:28-29).  But we want to focus right on in to this word "work" and its ties to "energy" so that we see what our lives are about.  We have a certain level of energy, of strength to use in the world.  What must our efforts be geared to?  Are we setting ourselves up for a kind of "fallen" state if we leave out the work of God?  Aren't we missing the mark when we think that labor in our lives should be only about material things, and not a more full and complete life that includes the energies (grace) of God in it and amongst all those other things we need for the body?  Jesus is teaching us to set our sights higher for quality of life than simply the material stuff we think we need or want, as life subsists of so much more than the material.  We are not just the body -- we are soul and spirit.  And at heart, without that which quenches and satisfies spirit and soul, we lead very empty lives.  Our energies are depleted on what is only satisfying to a body without consciousness and animation -- without true life.  If we want to truly live, Jesus is saying, we need to work for more in life than simply the food that perishes.  We need a better goal, something that will pay us back immeasurably more than that.  And that means that everything in life needs to be couched within our faith in order to truly reward us with what makes life worthwhile, valuable, of quality, satisfying, and with joy contained in it for us.  We all have natural gifts and talents.  Do you have the experience of the difference between a work you take on because the work itself gives you joy, fulfills a part of your character or soul or spirit -- and work taken on just for the money?  There's a vast world of difference in the two.  But more than that, faith itself changes the very quality of our lives.  Faith can mean that we do something because it's right in front of us and needs doing -- but we do it in the context of the satisfaction of knowing that this is where God leads us.  We get an inner fulfillment that can't be easily explained or expressed, but which motivates us with energy, with the grace of the time.  We may even find, with faith, that we can take on responsibilities we never felt we'd want, and triumph in them with God's help and grace and truth.  Let us set for ourselves our highest and most fulfilling goals.  Let us find what satisfies body, soul, and spirit for a fullness of life without which life is inevitably "less" than what He offers to us.

 

Daughter, your faith has made you well

 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.  And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name.  And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death.  Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live."  So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.  She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"  But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' "  And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Teacher any further?"  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid, only believe."  And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.  When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep?  The child is not dead, but sleeping."  And they ridiculed Him.  But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.  Then He took the child by the hand, and she said to her, "Tabitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.  And they were overcome with great amazement.  But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

- Mark 5:21-43

On Saturday, we read of Jesus' arrival across the sea of Galilee, in Gentile territory.  They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.  And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains.  And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.  When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.  And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I implore You by God that You do not torment me."  For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"  Then He asked him, "What is your name?"  And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion, for we are many."  Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.  Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.  So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them."  And at once Jesus gave them permission.  Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.    So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city, and in the country.  And they went out to see what it was that had happened.  Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.  And they were afraid.  And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.  Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.  And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.  However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."  And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.  And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name.  And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death.  Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live."  So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.  Here we are again, back on the "home" side of the sea of Galilee, once again in Jewish territory.  My study bible says, "Not all Jewish leaders were opposed to Jesus."  It's important that the Gospels tell us so, and this includes prominent members of the Sanhedrin who would become key followers of Jesus and play a significant role in the story of His life.  Here, once again we're back in the place where Jesus is known and His fame is spread so that the multitudes simply throng Him, as opposed to the desolate place He went and found the Gadarene demoniac in Saturday's reading.  The leader of the synagogue is motivated by a great love for his young daughter, who is twelve years old, just on the verge of becoming a young woman.  He puts his trust in Christ to help her.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.  She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  Here the Gospel gives us a woman in contrast to the young girl.  As opposed to the young girl full of the promise of a future life, daughter of the synagogue ruler, this one has spent all of her savings, "all that she had" and was no better, but rather worse!  She has "suffered many things from many physicians."  Her suffering and illness has lasted as long as the young girl's life.  We can imagine her struggle simply for hope.  The blood flow itself would take her out of community, making her unclean; we can surmise it is a source of shame and grief, something that isolates her from others in an unjust way.

When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"  But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' "  And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  Here's an interesting parallel:  she feels in her body that she is healed of the affliction, just as Christ "knows in Himself" that power has gone out of Him.  My study bible points out that "healing takes energy.  Jesus is aware that divine energy had gone out of Him when He was touched.  This power (Gr. dynamis) is a manifestation of the one, uncreated power of God,  'the power of God to salvation' (Rom. 1:16)."

But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."  My study bible says here:  "God's power or energy is available to people as grace from Him.  Jesus says, Daughter, your faith has made you well, showing that while divine power healed her, the woman's faith participated in the healing."  We note the word "affliction" used by Jesus, and again return to the metaphor running through Mark's Gospel of the oppressive rule that afflicts human beings, from which Jesus comes to liberate us.  Here the root of affliction is to scourge or whip in a most painful way; the severe pain of disease or plague is indicated by this term as well. He restores her to peace as she is healed of her affliction.

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Teacher any further?"  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid, only believe."  Here, my study bible says, "No situation is hopeless when Christ is present.  As the woman needed faith to be healed, so these parents need to persist in faith, even now that their daughter's condition seems past hope."  In today's lectionary reading, we also find a passage from Galatians 1 in which St. Paul writes, "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."  He is referring to the Gospel message that he felt was being distorted into a gospel of man.  In today's reading we see illustrated a similar concept for us:  the popular understanding is that Jairus' daughter is dead, there is no hope.  But the revelation of Jesus tells us something else and asks of us (and Jairus) faith. 

And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.   My study bible notes, "Peter, James and John:  the inner circle of the disciples, on whose faith and understanding Jesus could rely."

Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.  When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep?  The child is not dead, but sleeping."  And they ridiculed Him.  Here we have another example of what the crowds believe, as contrasted with the message of Christ.  They ridicule Him.

But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.  Then He took the child by the hand, and she said to her, "Tabitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.  And they were overcome with great amazement.  But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.  We note again the emphasis on faith and what it does and what should be done for it.  Jesus takes only His inner circle with Him.  He puts "them all outside" -- all of those who ridicule His message, His revelation of what is happening here.  Taking the child by the hand is an action that for me is very symbolic, it shows His action, His initiation of the healing, just as He took Peter's mother-in-law by the hand in an earlier reading.  My study bible points out, "Jesus speaks Aramaic here, the spoken language of Jews in His time.  Jesus commands demons and they obey, the stormy seas and they obey, and here, the dead and she 'obeys.'."  It also notes that Jesus once again commanded silence to avoid misunderstanding.  Sometimes, silence and mystery are necessary in order to preserve in truth the gospel message for the true time of its public revelation.  Again, a paradox, something contrary to the beliefs of the crowds.

Today's reading teaches us all about faith, and how it connects us to a divine power, the energy of Christ.  What we see in today's manifestations of faith are the private messages, the secret, hidden communication that goes on between Christ and those who come to Him in faith.  First there is Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue who puts all his trust in Christ as he fears what will come to his daughter.  And then there is the woman who trusts despite her seemingly hopeless condition that there is one thing that she can try, if she can only just touch the hem of His garment in that crowd.  My study bible has a note that "Jesus never seems to be in a hurry, or ever interrupted from His mission.  Here He attends to both needs.  The woman goes away healed, Jairus is amazed and happy, and Jesus is not detained!  Only God in the flesh brings such things to pass."  But what we notice is the private faith that becomes (eventually) public doctrine.  It all begins with that spark that makes a connection with Him and with His divine energy or power.  In private, He heals the girl so as to avoid the crowds that ridicule and diminish the spark of faith in these people who hold on to hope despite what they hear.  In private, she (the woman with the bloodflow) reaches out to touch Him, and He reveals her as His "daughter" to the crowds.  We read in the Gospel the revelation of these things, the doctrine of Christ, the power and the spark of faith "even as a mustard seed" that grows into a gospel proclaimed to the world.  So, how is faith revealed in you and to you? Does it start as a spark, despite the lack of hope a "worldly" view would point out to you?  Do you nurture it in your heart?  What private moments have turned to public joy?  Let us consider faith and revelation, and remember that healing grace doesn't have to be proclaimed from the rooftops to prove its power, just nurtured as we are guided to do so.