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Written by: Fr George

RAISING OF JAIRUS’  DAUGHTER.

 

“The virtues build a new person radiating love to the world.”

(Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo who consecrated our temple.)

 

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  

                                                                                                         (Hebrews 4:15-16)

 

SUNDAY 9TH NOVEMBER. St. Nektarios Kephalas, Metropolitan of Pentapolis (1920). St. Matrona, Abbess, of Constantinople (c 492). St. John the Short, of Egypt (5^th). St. Theorists of the Isle of Lesbos (881). St. Euthymius & St. Neophytus, Founders of Dochiariou Monastery (Mt Athos 10^th). St. Job, first Patriarch of Moscow (1606). Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, She who is Quick to Hear.

 

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ICON OF THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD,

“SHE WHO IS QUICK TO HEAR.”

Feastday 9^th November.

 

 

The miraculous icon of the Mother of God was created on Mount Athos in the Dochiariou Monastery. Tradition has it that it was painted in the tenth century in the time when St. Neophytus was Abbot. In 1664 Nilus the cook, on his way to the kitchen, holding a smoking, burning torch, passed by the icon which hung over the door.  He heard a voice from the icon that in future he should not carry the sooty torch that would darken the icon. Thinking that one of the brothers was jesting with him he ignored the warning. Suddenly as he came near to the kitchen he became blind. Nilus prayed before the icon asking for forgiveness. On hearing this the monks placed an ever-burning lamp before the icon, censing it every night. Nilus again heard the voice telling him that he had been forgiven and would receive his sight and that She was the protector and guardian of the monastery and that all who came to her in faith would be listened to because of her intercessions before her Son. Also, that the Icon should be called “She who is Quick to Hear.” Down the centuries her promise has been fulfilled by the miracles that have happened and continue to happen before the Most Holy Mother of God's icon, “She who is Quick to Hear. “

 

TODAY’S GOSPEL READING. LUKE 8:41-56: “And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”  When all denied it, Peter and all those with Him said, “Master the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, “Who touched Me?” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out of Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she shall be made well.” When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and the mother of the girl. Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.”  And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.  

 

“Who touched Me?” These words of Jesus are remarkable when we think of the circumstances in which they were uttered. Surrounded by a large crowd wanting to be near Him for all sorts of reasons; with a powerful man desperately seeking healing from Jesus for his very sick daughter, someone secretly touched the hem of His robe. We can imagine the mayhem of a lot of people pushing and jostling and the disciples acting as stewards to protect and guide Him through the throng. Amidst all this turmoil there is an eternal peace and quietness as the healing power of God restores a woman with a debilitating condition back to health. She probably wanted to slip quietly away, grateful to God for her healing. This gentle but deep faith is perceived by Jesus, to the bewilderment of Peter and the other disciples who, not surprisingly, were themselves being pushed and shoved by the crowd. The woman, on being discovered. tells all and is sent away in peace.

Those who dare not approach our Saviour openly, out of fear or shame but with deep faith, touch the border of His garment will surely find healing. When we venerate the Holy Icons we kiss only the hands or feet like many other of the faithful folk, something that is in danger of becoming routine and ‘what we do’. Imagine someone kissing only the border of an icon of Christ out of love and unworthiness but with great faith and we may, in our own times, bring into our lives the faith of the woman with an issue of blood and hear the words of Christ “Go in peace.”

      After this incident in the centre of Jairus’ anguish, things appear that are potentially devastating for himself, hearing the news that his daughter had died. Again we get the quiet and gentle message of peace when Jesus says that the little girl will be made well, to the ridicule of those who knew what death looked like. The wailing and weeping of the mourners are like the noise and bustle of the crowd; but in the quiet of the house of Jairus and his wife the little girl is brought back to life. The Incarnate Lord sharing our humanity simply tells them to give the child something to eat.

      In the noise and bustle of our daily lives we too should be able to be with Jesus in quiet reflection amid the tempest that surrounds us. Like the faith of the woman who reached out to Him or the astonishment in the silence in the house of Jairus at the girl’s restoration, we should never be surprised by God among us. Let the silence of eternity be for us the loudest of all noises and let the noise of the world be less than a whisper.

 

                                                                                                Much Love,

 

                                                                                                Fr. George.    

If anyone has current or recent experience in the following:-

(1) Charity and Commercial Law.

(2) Social Work, Social Care or Social Policy.

Please let me know as the Archdiocese is in need of such expertise. Thank you.  ​