Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The faith of Jairus and of the hemorrhaging woman
While he was saying these things to them, an official came forward, knelt down before him, and said, “My daughter has just died. But come, lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus rose and followed him, and so did his disciples. A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.” Jesus turned around and saw her, and said, “Courage, daughter! Your faith has saved you.” And from that hour the woman was cured. When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land.
Mt 9,18-26
The piece presents us two miracles, one of which fits to the other like a gem. The scene is dominated by the figure of Jesus, which is imposing due to the peace and security with which he moves and because of the faith of Jairus and of the hemorrhaging woman. Quietness, safety and faith which are opposed to the chaotic rally of the crowd around Jesus in the miracle of this woman and to the bustle and agitation of the people in the miracle of the daughter of Jairus. The faith never generates chaos, tears and despair, but confidence, optimism and hope, even in the presence of the death. The two episodes are dominated by two verbs, which are interrelated: to live and to touch. The return to live of the hemorrhaging woman and of the daughter of Jairus are made possible by touching or being touched by the person of Jesus. In this era of the church, we risk to huddle around the Lord without touching him or being touched by him in the way which changes the life. It is the difference between the theological faith, which we have all received in the baptism, and the charismatic faith which moves the mountains. This is the faith which is life-changing, which makes the impossible possible, allowing a flush with a copious amount of Providence, which is ripping to Jesus graces and miracles, like Mary at the wedding in Cana. It is clear that this faith is a gift, but it is a gift which has to be continually asked in the prayer and sought in the life, like that character of the gospel who goes in search of valuable stones, until when he founds a truly unique one and at that point he leaves all the others. One way to begin this research is to go to glean in our past to find out the situations and the times when the Lord saved us from the dangers, blessed our activity and has joined us by his Providence. We just have only to pray and remember, remember and give thanks to find a way to live, to think and to believe which can open new horizons. And, like the hemorrhaging woman and Jairus, we will be able to “touch” the Lord and to be healed from our unbelief.