Sleeping – Reflection on Mark 5:21-24, 35b-43
As a child of God, you have heard Jesus talk about the equivalent of sleeping to you. We are all little ones in our understanding of Jesus and the disciples who, in Jesus’s name, awaken those thought dead from their sleeping. As someone who considers Jesus’s words to have a spiritual context, I believe that sleeping and awakening can be applied to exercising our faith. You likely have times when your faith wanes even a little, and you do not feel at full strength. Within this time, you search within your memories for the times that brought you strength or perhaps turned to the experiences of saintly persons. My go-to is Saint John of the Cross because he endured long periods of being forced to sleep against his will. Despite his conditions, he was able to rise to the beauty within his memory and his future when he would no longer be sleeping. We may have to do the same, by pushing aside those things that are forced upon us. Like John, we can let grace let us stand erect against negativity to view, absorb, and participate in God’s grander and Jesus’s love.
The Woman with an Issue of Blood by James Tissot (full-resolution image of painting)
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Mark 5:21-24 – Scripture*
A Girl Restored to Life
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 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.” 24 So he went with him.
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 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. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Mark 5:21-24, 35b-43 Reflection – Sleeping.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Mark 5 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.