Thoughts for the Day

A Woman Healed

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake ..... And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?”’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today's healing from Mark's Gospel comes in the middle of the story about the Healing of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5.21-43), but this tiny incident holds so much interest. The woman has been bleeding for twelve years, in itself an awful thing, but made more dreadful because she would have been a virtual outcast. According to the Law of Moses:

• "When a woman has a discharge of blood ... whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening. Everything upon which she lies during her impurity shall be unclean; everything also upon which she sits shall be unclean. Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening. Whoever touches anything upon which she sits shall wash his clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening....(Leviticus 15.19-24)

Such laws were to reduce the risk of infection and promote cleanliness within the family, but while a woman was considered unclean she was also unable to engage in communal activities like worship. This particular woman has suffered for 12 years and spent all her money on finding a cure, only to get worse. Her desperation, but even more her faith, bring her to Jesus, and she surreptitiously touches the edge of his outer garment, knowing that she is going to make him ritually unclean. Two other things to point out - we need to note her complete faith that she will be healed, as well as the fact that Jesus knows power had gone out of him. Finally, it is important that the woman should publicly acknowledge what has happened, if she is not to feel she has stolen healing from Jesus.

Today, we cannot touch the edge of Jesus' cloak, but under the new Covenant made with Jesus and with faith we can ask Him for healing.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You came to earth to draw us back to God,
and in Your compassion healed many people.
Give us the faith to take all our concerns to You,
remembering the bond we have with You
through our Baptism (or Confirmation)
when we promised to turn away from sin
and to turn to You as our Saviour.
Send Your Holy Spirit to strengthen our faith
and our trust in You.
Amen.