Encounter the estranged

Today's readings: Wisdom 1, 13-15; 2, 23-24; 2 Corinthians 8, 7.9.13-15; Mark 5, 21-43.

There are questions in life for which even as believers we never have a definite answer. The Christian God is a paradox, a God who revealed Himself, yet continues to be hidden. He is a God of life and He created us so that we may have life. Yet we die, we are vulnerable, we often experience abandonment and all sorts of shortcomings. It would be much easier for us if Jesus went around our cities healing the sick and bringing the dead back to life. But that is not the case.

The first reading today from the Book of Wisdom raises such basic questions. But the answer is in the Gospel. Jesus is not the philosopher who explains, or the theologian who dishes out answers to people's queries. His touch has the power of healing. He invites to discipleship, because it is in following him that our eyes can be opened to see and experience his power.

The two miracles reported in today's Gospel are very powerful and evocative. Jesus here is again in Jewish territory and surrounded by crowds. But people are singled out from the crowds, and are cared for individually. "Do not be afraid; only have faith", are the words Jesus addresses to Jairus, a synagogue leader. They are the same words he is addressing to us all in our disappointments.

Mark reports the story of a synagogue leader and a social outcast. This is a very significant parable for our body politic which, as clear signs are showing in various countries, can so easily turn its back on the needs of the marginalised portions of society. At times, we also witness how easy it is becoming for our civilised communities to turn racist. In this context, the Church and our believing communities cannot just watch things happen. There is much we can say and do. Jesus made things happen.

While on his way to heal the daughter of a privileged synagogue official, Jesus attends to the needs of a destitute person. In both cases, Jesus had to overcome very strict barriers of communication - on the one hand, because of the woman's state of impurity which hindered her from remaining in the community; on the other hand, because of the Synagogue leaders' mistrust in Jesus.

Jesus instructs the synagogue leader who, though powerful, needs healing. In some sense, this official represents members of our society who are comfortable, upper middle class, even in positions of power politically or economically. It is significant that in this Gospel story the household of Jairus is characterised by despair, grief and eventually ridicule.

The account of the woman who silently takes the initiative to liberate herself is a very powerful sign in the Gospel. Her act of touching Jesus, who restores this nameless and outcast woman, is a symbol of her empowerment.

In both narratives faith is important. The woman's faith is praised and Jairus is encouraged to have faith. The hiddenness, and at the same time, the manifestation of Jesus' power resonates in both cases.

This is the affirmation of Jesus who manifests his power with outsiders in Jewish territory. Our society is full of outsiders, those who oust themselves for whatever reason and those whom we keep at a distance.

In this context we need to pose serious questions to ourselves as believers to discern truthfully whether, in today's society, we are part of the problem or part of the solution. If part of the problem, then the Church will continue to be itself an outsider to society and ever more marginalised. If we want to be part of the solution, then in line with Jesus we need to encounter the estranged rather than create them.