Homily: February 3, 2026, Tuesday of the Fourth Week In Ordinary Time (Hope-Eternal life)

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 “The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate to weep.”

Separation by death of a loved one is painful. But for a parent to grieve the loss of a child, it is deep anguish. The pain reaches deep into the core of the being.

King David wept. The tears did not flow from his eyes, but from the depth of his very soul.

No matter how strong, the king broke down and was completely helpless at the death of his own beloved son.

No matter how powerful, this king could not bring back the life of his son.

In the Gospel today, we meet another grieving parent. Jairus, who had just lost his beloved daughter. But there is one major difference. Jairus was not helpless, he had Jesus to turn to. And Jesus has the power to bring back life.

A friend once shared her experience with her neighbor who lost a family member. Wanting to comfort the family, she visited them and enquired with the children, “Do you know what happens after death?” The children replied simply, “We become dirt.” The family was atheist. There was no hope of life after death, no believe in life eternal.

As Christians, we have faith and hope. We too have Jesus to turn to. We are not helpless. Yes, we grieve. Yes, we weep. Because death is separation, and separation always hurts. Faith does not remove tears, but it gives meaning to our sorrows, and hope to our grief.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus raised three people from the dead: the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow of Nain, and Lazarus.

He performed these miracles not merely out of compassion, but to strengthen our hope and faith, to believe His declaration: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”

And then Jesus showed us something even greater, He Himself rose from the dead. By His resurrection, He showed us that death does not have the final word.

Christ has conquered death, not just His own death, but He conquered death for the whole world. So that we who believe in Him will live with Him, and one day, be reunited with all who has gone before us in faith.

Amen.


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