The Gospel is Mark 5:21-43, a rapid-fire succession of encounters and miracles. Fr. Cantalamessa addresses the historicity of the account (he’s for it) and then relates the final story in the passage – the raising of the synagogue official’s daughter – to the inner life of many young people:
There is not only the death of the body but also the death of the heart.
Death of the heart exists when one lives in anxiety, discouragement and chronic sadness. Jesus’ words "Talitha koum," Little girl, arise, are not addressed only to dead boys and girls, but also to living boys and girls.
How sad it is to see young people … sad. And there are very many around us. Sadness, pessimism, the desire not to live, are always bad things, but when one sees or hears young people express them, the heart is even more oppressed.
In this connection, Jesus also continues today to resurrect dead boys and girls. He does so with his word, and also by sending them his disciples who, in his name, and with his very love, repeat to today’s young people that cry of his: "Talitha koum," youth, arise! Live again!
What a beautiful, simple homily for young people to hear this weekend…or any of us!
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