And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:2 Looking on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who having joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sitteth on the right hand of the throne of God.3 For think diligently upon him that endured such opposition from sinners against himself; that you be not wearied, fainting in your minds.4 For you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:
Thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have rendered not only us, but also all the generations before us, better; even as many as have received His oracles in fear and truth. Wherefore, having so many great and glorious examples set before us, let us turn again to the practice of that peace which from the beginning was the mark set before us; and let us look steadfastly to the Father and Creator of the universe, and cleave to His mighty and surpassingly great gifts and benefactions of peace. Let us contemplate Him with our understanding, and look with the eyes of our soul to His long-suffering will. Let us reflect how free from the wrath He is towards all His creation.
Responsorial Psalm — Psalm 22:26b-27, 28 and 30, 31-32
Ps 21:26-27
With thee is my praise in a great church: I will pay my vows in the sight of them that fear him.27 The poor shall eat and shall be filled: and they shall praise the Lord that seek him: their hearts shall live for ever and ever.28 All the ends of the earth shall remember, and shall be converted to the Lord: And all the kindreds of the Gentiles shall adore in his sight.30 All the fat ones of the earth have eaten and have adored: all they that go down to the earth shall fall before him.31 And to him my soul shall live: and my seed shall serve him.32 There shall be declared to the Lord a generation to come: and the heavens shall shew forth his justice to a people that shall be born, which the Lord hath made.
To inquire, respecting God, if it tends not to strife but to discovery, is salutary. For it is written in David, "The poor eat and shall be filled; and they shall praise the Lord that seek him. Your heart shall live forever." For they who seek him after the true search, praising the Lord, shall be filled with the gift that comes from God, that is, knowledge. And their soul shall live; for the soul is figuratively termed the heart, which ministers life: for by the Son is the Father known.
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.)