"It takes a great deal for the Lord to wrestle us from our own hands. Death, it seems, is often the door through which God has to make us walk in order that we rely completely upon Him.
"In a touching scene recounted in the synoptic Gospels, the young daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, lies dying, and Jairus hurries to seek Christ's help. (Cf. Matthew 9:18-16; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56.) 'My little daughter is at the point of death. . . .But come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well.' (Mark 5:23)
"As Christ starts off with him, relief must have flooded over this good, believing man. And then, the Lord gets delayed. The woman with the hemorrhage steps forward through the crowd and seems to claim the anticipated miracle. Anxiety and despair must have flooded over the waiting father. He seems to have lost his chance. 'While Christ was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"' (Mark 5:35)
"Knowingly, Christ turns to Jairus and says, 'Do not fear, only believe.' (Mark 5:36)
"Only believe."
In a recent commentary, Dr. Elizabeth A. Mitchell, S.C.D. reflected on how, although the "silencing of the liturgy, snuffed out around the globe, has left the Church in a deadening slumber," the "Church is not dead, she is only asleep."
To access Dr. Mitchell's complete essay, please visit:
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