Today's Gospel presents us with vivid pictures of the sorrows that beset the human race and the power that has come to conquer them. We have crowds pushing and shoving, emotional suppliants on their knees, noisy wailing and contemptuous laughter. In the centre of the picture is the calm figure of Jesus, the one who is called "God saves". In Jesus, God could save from sickness, from sin and from death, the physical and spiritual ills to which we are prone.

Jesus has great power at His command, but it is a power which He only uses personally. Jesus was quick to elicit from the sick woman a personal statement of belief. Then, as is implied in the passage, her initial cure is extended to the region of the spiritual.

The restoring of life to Jairus' daughter made such an impression on Mark that he records the lovely sounding Aramaic Talitha cumi and Jesus' directions to give her something to eat. This tenderness contrasts with Jesus' peremptory ordering of the mocking crowds out of the room.

In response to the father's faith this gentle and strong Saviour restores life on earth to the little girl and inspires us with the hope that, if we believe in Him, He will give us eternal life in heaven.