Readings: Wisdom 1:13-15, 2:23-24; Psalm 30; 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15; Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
Grace and peace dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s another wonderful time together in His presence.
I believe we all have relatives, friends, colleagues, members of our family who are having faith crises – some who are angry with God, some who do not believe in God, some who are staunch atheists and some who are just indifferent to the faith.
LESSON ONE
Do not get tired of praying for them
The first message of today is: “Do not get tired of praying for them. God knows how to bring them to their knees.” If your words won’t convince them, send your petitions relentlessly to heaven on their behalf.
In the Gospel of today, a synagogue official, Jairus by name, ran to Jesus. He fell at His feet and pleaded with Him earnestly. Note, a synagogue official would not ordinarily come to Jesus. They tried not to have anything to do with Him but there was a burning platform – his daughter was dying and he had exhausted all his possibilities. He had come to the end of his capability and was now helpless. He had recognised his limits and he had no option than to run to Jesus. God brought this officer to Jesus through the sickness of his daughter; may He also bring those who do not know or love Him to their knees. May He lead them to seek Him and recognise His existence and power through the events in their lives.
LESSON TWO
Jesus went with him.
As simple as this may seem, it is a great example and lesson for us. There are two lessons I want to draw here.
A. Be kind to anyone in need, irrespective of who they are.
Jesus didn’t judge this man. He didn’t treat him as an enemy, He simply went with him. Here was a man in need and it didn’t matter who he was. This is how Jesus wants us to respond to people’s need. There is no need to judge anyone or refuse to be kind to people because they are unkind to us, different from us or because they do not love us. This calls to mind, the story of the Good Samaritan who helped a Jew sacrificially and without hesitation.
In the Second Reading, St. Paul invites us to imitate this kindness of Jesus, who became poor for our sake even when we do not deserve such kindness.
B. He goes with us to where we need Him
When we come to Jesus with humble faith, He follows us to our place of need, to our place of despair. He goes with us to where the fire burns. He follows us to help us.
LESSON THREE
Jesus has the final say.
When the official was told that his daughter was dead, he must have been upset that Jesus had delayed (In the longer version of this story, Jesus actually took His time attending to a woman whom He cured of her hemorrhage). Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid. When He got to the house and told them that the daughter was not dead, the people laughed at Him.
How many of us have been laughed at before because of our faith? Take note, they laughed at Jesus too.
The world may laugh at someone who believes in God but there is nothing more sensible, reliable, redeeming and promising than that.
The mourners and sympathisers laughed at Jesus but guess what?
“Truth is not just the fact accessible to our senses. Truth is not what we think; it is not what everyone is saying. Truth is what God says about a matter.”
If God says, “It is not over,” then it is not. If God says it is for you, then no matter the opposition, it is yours. If God says you will not die, no matter the battle, you will survive it. If God says I will bless you, no matter how impossible it looks, you will be blessed. If God says you will live, no matter what the doctor says, you will live. If God says I have healed you, no matter what is in the report, just know that you are healed. If God says you will shine, no matter how much the world laughs at you, you will definitely rise and shine.
Am I speaking to someone who is feeling down because of what your situation looks like? The Lord says, “I tell you to get up, I have the final say” (Proverbs 16:1).
Prayer
Lord Jesus, just as you led Jairus to yourself through the storm in His home, lead to yourself through whatever means you deem fit, all those who are separated or far from you. Teach me to be kind to everyone, whether they deserve it or not. Help me to conquer my fear and to get up by believing that you have the final say in every matter that concerns me, Amen.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on June 30, 20244.