GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF MARK
Two Daughters: Mk 5,21-43
Reading this second part of chapter 5 shows us that we have here two stories in one: there is an outer story of the healing of Jairus'’ daughter (12 years old, verse 42) (4,21-24 & 4,35-43) and an inner story of an unnamed woman (who has been bleeding for 12 years, verse 25)) (4,25-34).
These “sandwich” or “intercalated” (to give the technical term) stories are a notable feature of the Gospel of Mark. We have already seen the first one in 3,20-35. When we read that episode I said that this one in chapter 5 gives us a clearer example. These sandwiches are a deliberate arrangement of the evangelist and a clear feature of this Gospel. The two stories are complete in themselves. Thus the invitation is for us to compare and contrast the inner and outer stories. We will discover how the two are connected and how they give different messages.
We will therefore read the two stories separately and then bring them together.
The outer story, Jairus: verses 21-24
Jesus meets Jairus in verses 21-24. Note where this takes place: is this now Jewish or Gentile territory? Who is present? Without knowing the details, what are we told about Jairus? Who takes the intiative? What does Jesus do?
The inner story, 4,25-34, now follows. One way of looking at it is to see it acting as a time filler, enabling Jesus to get from his meeting with Jairus to his house. But we will see there is more to it than that.
The outer story, the daughter: verses 35-43
Have a look at the OT background: both Elijah (1 Kings 17,17-24) and Elisha 2 Kings 4,18-37) raised people from the dead.
What are the differences between the actions of the two prophets and those of Jesus?
There's another obvious contrast between Jesus and the prophets which can also be spotted.
What does Jesus require from the synagogue official? How does this help the message of the two stories and the Gospel as a whole.
What is so special about these three disciples? (Have a look back to chapter 1)
Is the daughter dead? Is "asleep" an euphemism (Jn 11,11) or real?
What part does the daughter play in her healing?
Time for my response.
The inner story, the Woman with the hemorrhage: verses 25-34
What is the status of this woman, in ordinary circumstances (as compared with Jairus) and as a result of her illness? Should she be in the crowd at all?
What word describes her attitude in verse 28?
What is the attitude of the disciples in verse 31?
Does her attitude in verse 33 conflict with that in verse 28?
Now have another look at my response.
The two daughters: 5,21-34
Have a good look for the links between the two stories. Look for the simple connections, like the girl being 12 and the woman bleeding for 12 years which I have already mentioned.
Now make a comparison between the two stories. What is the main lesson from the two?
The look again at my response and how we can read the two stories as a pair.
The Sunday Gospel
Long though it may be, the whole double episode fomrs the Gospel reading for the 13th Sunday. A shorter form is provided; what does it do?
The accompanying Old Testament reading is two short selections from the Wisdom of Solomon (Wisdom 1,13-15 and 2,23-24). Look at these verses in your Bibles and at their context, the whole of chapters 1 and 2. Then consider how this reading sets the scene for this Sunday's Gospel. What does it highlight and how is this different to the main message of the evangelist?
Look too at the responsorial psalm, formed of some verses from Psalm 29, in light of the Gospel.
Then go to my response.
We now continue with a change of scene as we begin our reading of chapter 6.