two daughters.

In Mark 5:21-43, Jesus gives a daughter a father and a father a daughter. Jesus is on his way to Jairus' house. Jairus was a synagogue ruler whose 12-year-old daughter was at the point of death. En route with a large crowd, a woman pulls the hem of Jesus' robe. Immediately, Jesus was aware that power had left him. He calls out, "Who has touched me?" The disciples tried to reason with him: there's a mob walking with us, everyone is touching everyone. But both Jesus and the woman knew healing had transpired. She knew that what she was hoping for came to pass. He knew what she was hoping for came to pass. Fearful, the woman falls at Jesus' feet and tells him it was her, the outcast, the poor one who had spent all her money on healing attempts, the sick one that no doctor could heal. She identifies herself to Christ, and then Christ gives her a new identity: "Daughter ..." he says. She, the social outcast who wasn't supposed to be around a crowd of people, received a double healing in that moment. Her physical disease had left, and she, who probably had no family or was disowned if she did, became a family member to the Son of Man.

Jesus goes on to Jairus' house, but before arriving is interrupted again. This time, by Jairus' servant. "Your daughter is dead. Don't bother the Rabbi more by having him come." I wonder if in this moment Jairus is annoyed at that Jesus healed another daughter on the way. I wonder if he's angry at this woman who took Jesus' time that was supposed to be given to his daughter. Jesus overhears their conversation. He tells Jairus, "Don't fear, just believe." And they keep walking toward his house. Outside, a wailing party has gathered. He tells them to hush, "She's just sleeping," he says. They laugh at him and continue to wail. He goes inside, tells the girl to arise and then tells those around her to give her something to eat.

That day, two daughters were restored. One young, one old. One rich, one poor. One dead, one slowly dying. Both worth Jesus' time. Both made whole because of faith.

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