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Mark 5:35-36, 40-43
Some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” … [Jesus] went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about … He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

To ponder
Ask the precocious first grader marching out of Vacation Bible School with a Jesus-themed colouring book under her arm and she will likely say, “The good news is Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” And she will be right … The gospel means that every small story is part of a sweeping story, every ordinary life part of an extraordinary movement. God is busy making all things new. - Rachael Held Evans, Inspired

Taste and see
The season of Lent anticipates a great feast and joyful baptisms in honour of the resurrection of our Lord. As we journey together these forty days, our hunger grows for all that awaits us. Along the way in these devotions, we hear stories from Jesus’ life and ministry - stories meant for sharing, stories that are part of the larger story of how God makes all things new

In today’s story of healing, the father’s faithful persistence, rather than his social standing as a leader of the synagogue, brings Jesus to the girl’s side to save her. Now the room is filled with the aroma of food, the splashing of cleansing water, and other expressions of the family’s profound gratitude.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Prayer

Compassionate Lord, take our hands, touch our hearts, feed us, and inspire us to lift our voices in prayer, praise, and witness to the story of your love for us and all creation. Amen.

(from: “A Story to Tell: Devotions for Lent” Bekki Lohrmann, Harvard Stephens Jr., Lydia Posselt, David L. Miller; Augsburg Fortress, 2020)