First Reading — 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30-19:3
2 Sam 18:9-10
And it happened that Absalom met the servants of David, riding on a mule: and as the mule went under a thick and large oak, his head stuck in the oak: and while he hung between the heaven and the earth, the mule on which he rode passed on.10 And one saw this and told Joab, saying: I saw Absalom hanging upon an oak.14 And Joab said: Not as thou wilt, but will set upon him in thy sight. So he took three lances in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom: and whilst he yet panted for life, sticking on the oak,24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman that was on the top of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone.25 And crying out he told the king: and the king said: If he be alone, there are good tidings in his mouth. And as he was coming apace, and drawing nearer,30 And the king said to him: Pass, and stand here.31 And when he bad passed, and stood still, Chusai appeared: and coming up he said: I bring good tidings, my lord, the king, for the Lord hath judged for thee this day from the hand of all that have risen up against thee.32 And the king said to Chusai: Is the young man Absalom safe? And Chusai answering him, said: Let the enemies of my lord, the king, and all that rise against him unto evil, be as the young man is.33 The king therefore being much moved, went up to the high chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went he spoke in this manner: My son Absalom, Absalom my son: would to God that I might die for thee, Absalom my son, my son Absalom.1 And it was told Joab, that the king wept and mourned for his son:2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day: The king grieveth for his son.3 And the people shunned the going into the city that day as a people would do that hath turned their backs, and fled away from the battle.
And what shall I say of Peter who at the sixth hour went up upon the house-top, and there learnt the mystery of the baptism of the Gentiles. But the homicide Absalom had reared for himself a pillar in the King's dale, and then, after his death, he was cast into a great pit. So then the saints ascend unto the Lord, the wicked descend to crime; the saints are on the mountains, the wicked in the valleys; For God is the God of the hills, not of the plains.
But that same David, that the difference of his actions may not perhaps disturb those who cling to the words of Scripture; that same David, I say, who had not wept for the innocent infant, wept for the parricide when dead. For at the last, when he was wailing and mourning, he said, "O my son Absalom, my son Absalom! Who will grant me to die for thee!" But not only is Absalom the parricide wept over, Amnon is wept over; not only is the incestuous wept over, but is even avenged; the one by the scorn of the kingdom, the other by the exile of his brothers. The wicked is wept over, not the innocent. What is the cause? What is the reason? There is no little deliberation with the prudent and confirmation of results with the wise; for there is great consistency of prudence in so great a difference of actions, but the belief is one. He wept for those who were dead, but did not think that he ought to weep for the dead infant, for he thought that they were lost to him, but hoped that the latter would rise again.
A prayer for David himself. Incline thy ear, O Lord, and hear me: for I am needy and poor.2 Preserve my soul, for I am holy: save thy servant, O my God, that trusteth in thee.3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I have cried to thee all the day.4 Give joy to the soul of thy servant, for to thee, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul.5 For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee.6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer: and attend to the voice of my petition.
Therefore, the Word is our educator who heals the unnatural passions of our soul with his counsel. The art of healing, strictly speaking, is the relief of the ills of the body, an art learned through human wisdom. Yet, the only true divine healer of human sickness, the holy comforter of the soul when it is ill, is the Word of the Father. Scripture says, "Save your servant, O my God, who puts his trust in you. Have mercy on me, O Lord, because I have cried to you the whole day through." In the words of Democritus, "The healer, by his art, cures the body of its diseases, but it is wisdom that rids the spirit of its ills." The good educator of little ones, however, Wisdom, the Word of the Father, who created human beings, concerns himself with the whole creation, and as the physician of the whole person heals both body and soul.
And when Jesus had passed again in the ship over the strait, a great multitude assembled together unto him, and he was nigh unto the sea.22 And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue named Jairus: and seeing him, falleth down at his feet.23 And he besought him much, saying: My daughter is at the point of death, come, lay thy hand upon her, that she may be safe, and may live.24 And he went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.25 And a woman who was under an issue of blood twelve years,†26 And had suffered many things from many physicians; and had spent all that she had, and was nothing the better, but rather worse,27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the crowd behind him, and touched his garment.28 For she said: If I shall touch but his garment, I shall be whole.†29 And forthwith the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the evil.†30 And immediately Jesus knowing in himself the virtue that had proceeded from him, turning to the multitude, said: Who hath touched my garments?31 And his disciples said to him: Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou who hath touched me?32 And he looked about to see her who had done this.33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.34 And he said to her: Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole: go in peace, and be thou whole of thy disease.35 While he was yet speaking, some come from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying: Thy daughter is dead: why dost thou trouble the master any further?36 But Jesus having heard the word that was spoken, saith to the ruler of the synagogue: Fear not, only believe.37 And he admitted not any man to follow him, but Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.38 And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he seeth a tumult, and people weeping and wailing much.39 And going in, he saith to them: Why make you this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.40 And they laughed him to scorn. But he having put them all out, taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.41 And taking the damsel by the hand, he saith to her: Talitha cumi, which is, being interpreted: Damsel (I say to thee) arise.†42 And immediately the damsel rose up, and walked: and she was twelve years old: and they were astonished with a great astonishment.†43 And he charged them strictly that no man should know it: and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
(Hom. in Mat. 31) This woman, who was celebrated and known to all, did not dare to approach the Saviour openly, nor to come to Him, because, according to the law, she was unclean; for this reason she touched Him behind, and not in front, for that she durst not do, but only ventured to touch the hem of His garment. It was not however the hem of the garment, but her frame of mind that made her whole. There follows, For she said, If I may but touch his clothes, I shall be whole.
(Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Macr. v. Chrys. Hom. in Mat. 31.) He calls her daughter because she was saved by her faith; for faith in Christ makes us His children.
(non occ.) Or else, to take away all display, He suffered not all to be with Him; that, however, He might leave behind Him witnesses of His divine power, He chose His three chief disciples and the father and mother of the damsel, as being necessary above all. And He restores life to the damsel both by His hand, and by word of mouth. Wherefore it says, And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise. For the hand of Jesus, having a quickening power, quickens the dead body, and His voice raises her as she is lying; wherefore it follows, And straightway the damsel arose and walked.
About CSB. A personal translation of the New Testament, rendered directly from the public-domain Greek in a literary style — not a scholarly critical edition, and not for liturgical or doctrinal authority. It is one reader's work, offered for enjoyment; where it matters, weigh it against an established translation. (Placeholder text — final wording to come.)