The cure of the woman with hemorrhages is one of the stories in today’s Gospel passage. It is a story that we might have read or heard many times. Let us reflect on three points from this story: the woman’s misery, the woman’s faith, and the woman’s confession.
Her Misery: the Gospel passage tells us that this unnamed woman suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years. Physically, she was in pain. Socially, she could not be around people because of her illness. Probably, she lost most, if not all, of her friends. Religiously, she was unclean to go to the temple. Economically, she was already broke after spending all she had on doctors. Instead of the doctors helping her, each visit to the doctor made her worse. She was inflicted, afflicted, rejected, and dejected. Maybe she was at the point of finally giving up on life.
Her Faith: it was after visiting all the specialists in town that she remembered she had heard some news about one Jesus of Nazareth. She heard stories about how he delivered the demoniac, how he made the lame walk, how he taught with authority, and how he did all he did with love. She had not set her eyes on Jesus. She only heard about him. Her condition did not permit her to be out in public; she was in quarantine. Probably, all she heard about Jesus was the product of her eavesdropping. She damned all the social and religious restrictions that kept her away from the public, and she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Many others had been with Jesus for a while but could not see what the woman perceived from a distance. When she got close to Jesus, instead of asking Jesus to touch her, she touched him.
Her Confession: yes, just as she believed, it happened. As soon as she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, her flow of blood dried up, and she was instantly healed. It seemed like she stole the blessing. She appeared to be a prefiguration of the good thief on the cross, who stole everything, including heaven. He was on the cross next to Jesus because he was a thief. He immediately recognized divinity in Jesus. He would not miss the opportunity, so he prayed, “Jesus, remember me in your kingdom.” And Jesus said, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” The woman knew she was not allowed to be with the crowd because she was not clean, but she broke the law. It was bad enough that she showed up in public, but it was even worse that she stretched out her hand to touch a clean person like Jesus. When Jesus asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” She knew that she was the guilty one, and just like the good thief on the cross who admitted his sins, the woman confessed that she was the one who touched Jesus’ cloth. After she confessed, Jesus gave her the gift of salvation in addition to her cure; he said, to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
My dear friends, this woman only heard about Jesus, and all she wanted was to touch his garment. Today, many of us Catholics have the privilege to receive Jesus Christ as our food and drink; his body, blood, soul, and divinity under the appearance of bread and wine. I have no idea of the misery you are facing at this moment. I do not know how many professionals, doctors, lawyers, and psychologists you have visited. I have no idea of how much money, friends, and opportunities you have missed because of the problem you are facing. But I know that there is power in Jesus’ garment; I know that there is power in the name of Jesus; I know that there is healing power in the body and blood of Jesus. All he needs from us is the faith of that woman. As you listen to me today, may your next step regarding your current problem bring you a miraculous and permanent solution through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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