“One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, ‘My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.’ He went off with him... He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum’, which means ‘little girl, I say to you arise.’”
How frequently people ask for prayer for someone who is ill. During the pandemic we have become increasingly aware of the power of intercessory prayer for healing. The sure gift we can give another is to offer prayer.
The official knelt and pleaded with his whole heart as any good parent would. He asked for the beautiful gesture of laying on of hands. When we celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, the same gesture is used as we implore the presence of the healing God for the sick person.
Who is it that needs my prayer today? A family member who is ill, someone who has wandered from the faith, a person asking for guidance as to what to do – school, work, vocation? Like the official, don’t just pray, but earnestly plead. The Lord will always listen. He takes us by the hand too.