by Sister Lynne Marie Simonich
In Sunday's Gospel passage from Mark, Jesus is approached by Jairus, an official of the Synagogue. Jairus’ daughter is near death so he asks Jesus, “Come and lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” On their way to Jairus’ home, a woman suffering for 12 years gets close enough to Jesus and thinks, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." As she touches Jesus’ clothes, she is cured.
The daughter of Jairus dies before Jesus arrives at the house but Jesus goes in and takes the “child by the hand” and brings her back to life.
Both miracles give us a glimpse of the power of faith. The woman’s deep faith brought her to Jesus. Jairus’ deep faith brought Jesus to his daughter. Both the woman and the little girl were given new life after being touched by Jesus.
Our faith can bring the healing touch of Jesus to ourselves and others. We, too, can bring that healing touch to others by our words and actions of kindness, compassion and understanding.
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Yes, so true: kindness, compassion, understanding are healing properties of body, mind, spirit, soul. I am particularly struck by the fact that the gospel writer includes the telling that the woman experienced a sure physiological 'knowing' or sensation that healing power had touched her, had moved through her. How could the writer have known this, except that the woman must have shared her experience over and over again, with others? "She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction." (Mk.5:29) And to think, too, that the woman's ailment began at the same time the life of the young girl of 12 was just beginning ... An infant daughter, a woman in mid-life ... A 12-year period they - unknowingly - share together. The young girl's life-bearing years just beginning; the woman's life-bearing years coming to an end. Each one facing death, encounters JESUS. And LIVES! JESUS deems that Woman's Body is both vessel and instrument of healing ... That is a powerful and empowering thought to ponder. This is a woman's gospel, for sure! -- Linda
Thanks, Sister Lynne Marie, for the invitation to reflect on the importance of just the ordinary events in each day in which I both receive and offer healing…if I am present to the other. -- Fran