Jeremiah 8: 18-23 Listen to the cry of the daughter of my people, far and wide in the land! Is the Lord no longer in Zion, is her King no longer in her midst? I am broken by the ruin of the daughter of my people. I am disconsolate; horror has seized me. Is there no balm in Gilead, no physician there? Oh, that my head were a spring of water, my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night over the slain of the daughter of my people!

Talitha Kum! Mark 5: 40-43

Mark 5: 40 - 43 When Jesus arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “Talitha Kum!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." Jesus was confident that the child was not dead but asleep, that is, only temporary dead, because he had the power to bring her back to life, just as he did with his friend Lazarus!

The miracle was as much of Jairus as of Jesus: it was through Jairus’ faith that Jesus performed the miracle. Before the gathered crowd, in a patriarchal culture where men stood aloof and proud, Jairus, a wealthy and influential synagogue ruler, fell to his knees and wept before a humble carpenter And Jesus was moved by this man’s faith

Tallita Kum! We do not know your name. But in your face we see the faces of countless men, women and children, who have died to life because of the ill treatment they received at the hands of their traffickers. Your spirit is broken within you. You are dead to joy, dead to freedom and happiness. Dead Alive!

Yet, Jesus assures us that you are not really dead, that you are only asleep; trapped in the criminal hands of your captors - and you behave like dead, crying out for help! Your pain is our pain; and like Jairus, we trust in Jesus’ power to bring you back to life. So we want to say Talitha Kum!!!

The power of Jesus impels us Daring us to miracles, as compassionate prophets, Co creators, with God, intent on healing the broken hearts and bodies Today thousands of women and children throughout the world are waiting for our miracles! Jesus, teach us how to say Talitha Kum! with tenderness into the hearts of our enslaved brothers and sisters;

Jesus, together with you, we want to bring the miracle of life to all those who are Dead to joy and happiness Dead to dignity as human beings Dead to freedom Dead to health of body and mind

Jesus, in your name, we will take our brothers and sisters by the hand, and wake them from their sleep; knowing that only you who, created them, have the power to bring them back to life! Talitha Kum!!

In you, O God, I take refuge; Let me never be put to shame In you, O God, I take refuge; Let me never be put to shame! In your justice deliver me and rescue me; Incline your ear and save me. Psalm 71 (verses 1,5,6,7) O Lord, hear our voice, for it is the voice of children and men and women victims of human trafficking.

Lord, hear our voice, for it is the voice of those who suffer At the cold hands of an unjust world that makes them vulnerable. At the greedy hands of those who sell them At the oppressive hands of those who control them At the rough hands of those who buy them At the hushed hands who contribute with their silence.

Jesus, we ask you to heal their wounds. Stretch out your hand to them and bring them back to life! Ease their pain; hold their hand. Shine your light to dispel their nightmares. Give them strength to live through their ordeal Give them hope for a better tomorrow

AMEN!