Gospel in Art: My daughter has just died, but come and she will live

The Raising of Jairus' Daughter, oil on canvas painting by Gabriel Cornelius Ritter von Max, 1878 © Montreal Museum of Fine Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 7 July 2025
Matthew 9:18-26

At that time: While Jesus was saying these things, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, 'My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.' And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, 'If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.' Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well.

And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, 'Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.' And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.

Reflection on the painting

Our Gospel reading today recounts two of Jesus' most tender and powerful miracles: the healing of the woman with the haemorrhage and the raising of Jairus' daughter. Both stories are deeply personal. To accompany this reading, we turn to The Raising of Jairus' Daughter by Gabriel Cornelius Ritter von Max. Unlike most traditional depictions of this moment, which show Christ standing beside the bed and extending a formal gesture of command, Von Max captures an unusually intimate and compassionate scene. Jesus is shown seated on the bed, gently taking the girl's hand. His posture is tender, His gaze full of concern and divine authority. The painting radiates stillness and reverence, with the subdued lighting focusing on the sacred encounter between Christ and the lifeless child, now on the brink of being restored to life.

What is especially poignant in both miracles is the theme of physical touch. The woman suffering from the haemorrhage knew that even the slightest contact with Jesus' garment could heal her. And Jesus, in turn, often chose to heal through personal touch-laying hands on the sick, placing mud on a blind man's eyes, or, as in this painting, lifting a young girl from the shadows of death by holding her hand. Touch is not just a healing gesture; it is a profound form of communication.

Jesus shows us in today's reading that God is not distant or abstract, but tangible, present, and near. In our own lives, small gestures such as a reassuring hand, a comforting touch, an act of kindness, can carry immense spiritual weight. Like Jesus, we are called to use all our senses to reach out, to connect, and to heal.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-9-18-26-2025/ (with audio)