13^th Sunday of the Year - B

Wisdom 1: 13-15, 2: 23-24; Psalm 29; 2Cor. 8: 7-9, 13-15; Mark. 5: 21-43

Read: Now there was a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years ……..When she heard about Jesus, she mixed with the crowd, came up behind him and touched his clothes, because she said “If I can even touch his clothes, I shall be well again.” The source of the bleeding dried instantly and she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint. Immediately aware that power had gone out of him, Jesus turned round in the crowd and said “Who touched my clothes?”…… Then the woman came forward, frightened and trembling because she knew what had happened to her, she came close to him, fell at his feet and told him the whole truth. He told her “My daughter, your faith has restored you to health; go in peace, and be free from your complaint.”

Reflect: The woman who used to suffer from a haemorrhage believed that, if she just touched Jesus’ clothes, she would be healed. And so it happened. The power of life emanates from Jesus, but not everyone who touches him receives this. In today’s Gospel extract we read that there was a large crowd around him. These were not his enemies, but disciples, persons who were very close to him, who probably were pushing him around.

Nonetheless, Jesus says that one person ‘touched’ him. Only the sick woman touched him ‘with faith’. He told her “My daughter, your faith has restored you to health. Only you from all these people was capable of receiving God’s grace.” The crowd represents us, today’s Christians, who are close to the Master. We have the opportunity to listen to the word of God and to ‘touch’ Him through the Sacraments, especially through the Eucharist. If our life does not change, if our spiritual disease is not healed, and our vices and sins always remain the same, if our difficult character does not change, and words that cause offence do not start diminishing, that means that we remain in the ‘crowd’ that gathers around Christ without having ever ‘touched’ him. We will have only superficial contact with him; his words will simply be a noise that enters our ears, but does not reach the heart. It is faith that brings salvation.

Pray: Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me; help me, Lord. You changed my sorrows to happiness, Lord my God, I will praise you for ever!

Act:  Jesus is telling you: “Do not be afraid, just believe.”