Two Storms

Homily for Tuesday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time

The readings today place us right in the middle of two very human stories—stories filled with grief, fear, love, and the aching complexity of relationships.

In 2 Samuel, David receives the news of Absalom’s death. Absalom was not only his son but also his enemy, the one who rebelled against him. Yet when David hears of his death, he breaks down in one of the most heartbreaking cries in Scripture: “O my son Absalom… would that I had died instead of you.” David shows us that love does not always follow neat lines. Even when relationships are wounded, love remains stubborn, painful, and real. His grief reminds us that God understands the complicated sorrows we carry—sorrows that come from family, from brokenness, from love that has been stretched thin.

Then in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus meets two people in desperate need: a father pleading for his dying daughter, and a woman suffering for twelve long years. Both reach out in faith—one publicly, one secretly—and Jesus responds to both with tenderness and power. He restores life, restores dignity, restores hope.

Put together, these readings reveal something profound: God meets us in the places where love hurts the most. David’s cry shows the depth of human love; Jesus’ healing shows the depth of divine love. One expresses the pain we feel; the other reveals the hope God offers.

Wherever your heart is today—grieving, anxious, waiting, or reaching out in faith—these Scriptures remind you that God is not distant. He steps into our sorrow, touches our wounds, and speaks the same words He spoke to Jairus:

“Do not fear; only believe.”