Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost

Luke 8:41-46

 

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41  And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house,

42  for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him.

43  And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one,

44  came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased.

45  And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!"

46  But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me."

47  And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.

48  And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

49  While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more."

50  But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well."

51  And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.

52  And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping."

53  And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

54  But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise."

55  And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat.

56  And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

41 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰάειρος, καὶ αὐτὸς ἄρχων τῆς συναγωγῆς ὑπῆρχε· καὶ πεσὼν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Ἰησοῦ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, 42 ὅτι θυγάτηρ μονογενὴς ἦν αὐτῷ ὡς ἐτῶν δώδεκα, καὶ αὕτη ἀπέθνησκεν. Ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑπάγειν αὐτὸν οἱ ὄχλοι συνέπνιγον αὐτόν. 43 καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ρύσει αἵματος ἀπὸ ἐτῶν δώδεκα, ἥτις ἰατροῖς προσαναλώσασα ὅλον τὸν βίον οὐκ ἴσχυσεν ὑπ᾿ οὐδενὸς θεραπευθῆναι, 44 προσελθοῦσα ὄπισθεν ἥψατο τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ, καὶ παραχρῆμα ἔστη ἡ ρύσις τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς. 45 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς· τίς ὁ ἁψάμενός μου; ἀρνουμένων δὲ πάντων εἶπεν ὁ Πέτρος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ· ἐπιστάτα, οἱ ὄχλοι συνέχουσί σε καὶ ἀποθλίβουσι, καὶ λέγεις τίς ὁ ἁψάμενός μου; 46 ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· ἥψατό μού τις· ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔγνων δύναμιν ἐξελθοῦσαν ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ. 47 ἰδοῦσα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ ὅτι οὐκ ἔλαθε, τρέμουσα ἦλθε καὶ προσπεσοῦσα αὐτῷ δι᾿ ἣν αἰτίαν ἥψατο αὐτοῦ ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτῷ ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ὡς ἰάθη παραχρῆμα. 48 ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· θάρσει, θύγατερ, ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέ σε· πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην. 49 Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ἔρχεταί τις παρὰ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου λέγων αὐτῷ ὅτι τέθνηκεν ἡ θυγάτηρ σου· μὴ σκύλλε τὸν διδάσκαλον. 50 ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀκούσας ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ λέγων· μὴ φοβοῦ· μόνον πίστευε, καὶ σωθήσεται. 51 ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν οὐκ ἀφῆκεν εἰσελθεῖν οὐδένα εἰ μὴ Πέτρον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ τὸν πατέρα τῆς παιδὸς καὶ τὴν μητέρα. 52 ἔκλαιον δὲ πάντες καὶ ἐκόπτοντο αὐτήν. ὁ δὲ εἶπε· μὴ κλαίετε· οὐκ ἀπέθανεν ἀλλὰ καθεύδει. 53 καὶ κατεγέλων αὐτοῦ, εἰδότες ὅτι ἀπέθανεν. 54 αὐτὸς δὲ ἐκβαλὼν ἔξω πάντας καὶ κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς ἐφώνησε λέγων· ἡ παῖς, ἐγείρου. 55 καὶ ἐπέστρεψε τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτῆς, καὶ ἀνέστη παραχρῆμα, καὶ διέταξεν αὐτῇ δοθῆναι φαγεῖν. 56 καὶ ἐξέστησαν οἱ γονεῖς αὐτοῖς. ὁ δὲ παρήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς μηδενὶ εἰπεῖν τὸ γεγονός.

Larger Thought Unit

Today’s reading brings to a close the larger unit which began in 8:22 with Christ calming the sea, healing the Gentile demoniac, and now healing the woman with a flow of blood and raising the daughter of a ruler of the synagogue.  They function to reveal the power and authority of Christ to both the disciples and general audience, Jew and Gentile, with faith being the key ingredient that unites these readings.

 

Note

After having preached the gospel of mercy to the Gentiles (see Lk 8:26-39 on The Sixth Sunday of Luke) Jesus preaches that same gospel to the Jews: The number twelve associated with both women, as well as the introduction of Jairus as a ruler of the synagogue, point to the Jewishness of the audience. It is this gospel of mercy that grants them purification (the healing of the old woman) and life (the raising of the young girl). Once more, it is Peter, James, and John—who had difficulties with Paul’s gospel (Gal 2:1-14)—who are singled out to be taught that lesson.

 

Further resource

Charles H. Talbert, Reading Luke, Smith & Helwys Publishing, Macon, GA 2002;  pp. 101-105

Paul Nadim Tarazi, New Testament Introduction, Vol.1: Paul and Mark, St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY, 1999; pp.166-67.

Paul Nadim Tarazi, New Testament Introduction: Luke and Acts, St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY, 2001; pp.72-3.

 

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