Deacon:  Wisdom. Stand up. Hear the Holy Gospel.

Priest:   Peace to you all.

People:  And to your spirit.

Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke [8:40-56]

People:  Glory to You Lord. Glory to You.

Priest:   Listen.

Deacon:

On his return, Jesus was welcomed by the crowd, who were all there waiting for him.

Suddenly a man named Jairus, who was the president of the synagogue, came forward. He fell at the feet of Jesus, and begged him to come to his house.  He had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying.

The crowds were almost smothering Jesus as he walked there.

Now a woman had been suffering from a haemorrhage, for over twelve years, and no one had been able to cure her.  She came behind Jesus, and touched the edge of his cloak. At that very moment the haemorrhage stopped.

Jesus said, ‘Who touched me?’

When they all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, it’s the crowds pushing you around.’

But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me. I felt power go out from me.’

Since she was found out, the woman come forward trembling, fell at His feet, and explained in front of everyone why she had touched Him, and how she had been cured at that very moment.

Jesus said, ‘My daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’

While He was still saying this, someone arrived from the house of the synagogue president and told him, ‘Your daughter has died. Do not bother with the Rabbi any more.’

But Jesus heard this, and said to the man, ‘Do not fear. Only have faith and she will be saved.’

When he arrived at the house, he only allowed Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother, to come in with him.

Everyone was crying and wailing for her. But Jesus said, ‘Stop crying. She is not dead, only asleep.’

But they ridiculed Him, sure that she was dead.

So He Himself took her by the hand, and said to her, ‘Child, arise.’

And her spirit returned at that very moment, and she got up.

Then He told them to give her something to eat.

Her parents were amazed. But He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

People: Glory to You Lord, Glory to You.