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Gospel Reading - Jairus Daughter

²¹When Jesus had gone across by boat to the other side of the lake, a vast crowd gathered around him on the shore.

²²The leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and fell down before him, ²³pleading with him to heal his little daughter.

“She is at the point of death,” he said in desperation. “Please come and place your hands on her and make her live.”

²⁴Jesus went with him, and the crowd thronged behind.

³⁵While he was still talking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus’s home with the news that it was too late — his daughter was dead and there was no point in Jesus’ coming now. ³⁶But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.”

³⁷Then Jesus halted the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go on with him to Jairus’s home except Peter and James and John. ³⁸When they arrived, Jesus saw that all was in great confusion, with unrestrained weeping and wailing. ³⁹He went inside and spoke to the people.

“Why all this weeping and commotion?” he asked. “The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep!”

⁴⁰They laughed at him in bitter derision, but he told them all to leave, and taking the little girl’s father and mother and his three disciples, he went into the room where she was lying.

^41-42Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Get up, little girl!” (She was twelve years old.) And she jumped up and walked around! Her parents just couldn’t get over it. ⁴³Jesus instructed them very earnestly not to tell what had happened and told them to give her something to eat.