Trust in Jesus
Dena DeVormer of Rockford, MI, USA
Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him… When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. He said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. -Mark 5:22-24, 38-42
I was fortunate to have my maternal grandmother nearby when I was growing up. I developed a close relationship with her and am grateful for the wisdom she shared with me through my childhood and into adulthood.
One of the greatest lessons I learned from her came through witnessing her faith and trust in Jesus, the church, and the sacraments. My grandma had so many illnesses. It seemed to me, as a child, that she had almost every illness a person could get. Yet, in the midst of her struggles with her health, I never saw her faith in the Lord waver. Many times she would call upon my dad, an elder in the church, for the sacrament of laying on of hands for the sick. I remember wondering why she continued to ask for this sacrament when she seemed to get sick again shortly after each incident.
As a child, I expected physical healings to occur each time for my grandma, just like the woman with the hemorrhage and Jairus’ daughter experienced in today’s scripture. It would have been easy for me to become disillusioned when those healings did not always come in the manner in which I expected. Eventually I realized that it wasn’t always physical healing that she was looking for. Instead she experienced healing in other ways, both emotionally and spiritually. Her consistent trust in Jesus, the church, and the sacraments was evidence to me of the strength that is available to all of us if we put into action our faith and trust in Jesus.
Prayer Phrase
“Your mercies are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23, adapted).
Spiritual Practice
Ordinary Time is a season for noticing the details of life that make up its substance. This month, we invite you to pay attention with each fresh morning to the gift of being alive. Before getting out of bed, take a few deep breaths and notice what it feels like to wake up in your own body. Engage the tasks of your unfolding day with reverence-brushing your teeth, making the bed, pouring the coffee, tending the kids, feeding the animals, making breakfast, etc. Notice the presence of the Holy in every ordinary thing. Embrace your daily routines with sacramental significance. Notice how long you can do this before your attention is taken away, and commit to returning to this simple awareness as gently and often as you can.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
