MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #267

And behold there came a man whose name was Jairus: and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at the feet of Jesus, beseeching him that he would come into his house: For he had an only daughter, almost twelve years old, and she was dying. And it happened as he went that he was thronged by the multitudes. And there was a certain woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had bestowed all her substance on physicians and could not be healed by any. She came behind him and touched the hem of his garment: and immediately the issue of her blood stopped. And Jesus said: "Who is it that touched me?" And all denying, Peter and they that were with him said: "Master, the multitudes throng and press thee; and dost thou say, who touched me?" And Jesus said: "Somebody hath touched me; for I know that virtue is gone out from me." And the woman seeing that she was not hid, came trembling and fell down before his feet and declared before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was immediately healed. (Luke 8:41-47)

THE HUMILITY OF JAIRUS AND THE INFIRM WOMAN: Jairus, the rich and distinguished ruler of the synagogue, threw himself humbly on the ground at the feet of the poor Jesus of Nazareth, and begged for help. As for the woman, she felt herself to be so mean and wretched that she had not the courage to offer her petition to our Lord; and after she was healed, she fell trembling at His Feet, and related before the whole crowd from what misery she had been delivered. The very first maxim of the kingdom of God is this: "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)