“Little girl, I say to you, arise”

In this coming Sunday's Gospel story we will hear of Jesus performing two miracles. One involves a woman being healed from a long ailment simply by touching Jesus' garments, with her saying, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Mark tells us that Jesus was "aware at once that power had gone out from him" and looked for her, even in the midst of a great crowd.

That story takes place in the middle of a larger story where Jesus is asked to come and heal a little girl who is dying. We hear that, after the healing of the woman who touched his clothes, the people think the little girl has died and that Jesus shouldn't be bothered to come. However, Jesus insists, saying, "Do not be afraid; just have faith," insisting that she is merely asleep. When he arrives, he enters the room where the girl is, grabs her hand, and says, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!" Immediately she arises and walks around, to the astonishment of the people present.

Both of these stories point to the fact that Jesus really does care about us! These intimate glimpses into the public ministry of Jesus, where he interacts with individual people and even has physical contact with them, is a reminder to us that Jesus' heart is filled with loving concern for his people. No problem is too small, no concern too mundane for his attention. Whether it is in a large, bustling crowd or in a small, intimate room, Jesus notices... he acknowledges... he cares. So let Jesus be present in the midst of your cares this week, whether large or small, and know that even if an astonishing miracle doesn't happen, his heart is beating for you.

Want to read the readings for this Sunday? Click here to find them.