Today’s Gospel gives us two examples of Jesus performing healing miracles. The woman who was hemorrhaging blood and the dying child of the official. In both of these stories, we are missing the names of the females. They are both considered unclean in the Jewish culture; the woman because she is bleeding and the child because she is dead. These are not people the Jews would have expected Jesus to give his attention to.
After the woman touches Jesus, he says to her, “Courage, daughter, your faith has saved you.” He moves beyond any public persona or perception to welcome her as family. Her faith is not merely an act, it is a gift which makes her a child of God. Jarius’ daughter had passed before he even approached Jesus. But Jesus is not dismayed. He sends away the mourners and takes her by the hand to lead her back to her father. His touch has healed her.
We have each been there at some point or another. Like the woman, we have experienced illness or tragedy that has left us feeling separated from the rest of society. We feel cut off and alone with whatever is befalling us. We may feel dead inside and unable to connect to others.
Our healing comes through touch, in relationships. Jesus doesn’t only heal physical ills, he heals us through an intimate relationship, being so loved and cherished that everything in our world changes. Whatever name our parents gave us, whatever befalls us in this life, Jesus’ touch, his gentle calling of, “Daughter” or “Son” restores us to a profound relationship which surpasses grief, tragedy or illness.
We are called to be in relationship, both with God and with one another. May we, like the woman and like Jarius, open ourselves up to Jesus’s healing and restoring touch. May we, like Jesus, open ourselves up to relationships with those outside our normal circle. May He work His healing touch through us.
El evangelio de hoy nos da dos ejemplos de Jesús realizando milagros de curación. La mujer que sangraba y el hijo moribundo del jefe de la sinagoga. En ambas historias, nos faltan los nombres de las mujeres. Ambos son considerados impuros en la cultura judía; la mujer porque sangra y la niña porque está muerta. Estas no son personas a las que los judíos hubieran esperado que Jesús les prestara atención.
Después de que la mujer toca a Jesús, él le dice: “Hija, ten confianza; tu fe te ha curado”. Va más allá de cualquier personalidad o percepción pública para darle la bienvenida como familia. Su fe no es simplemente un acto, es un don que la hace hija de Dios. La hija de Jairo había fallecido incluso antes de que él se acercara a Jesús. Pero Jesús no se desanima. Despide a los dolientes y la toma de la mano para llevarla de regreso con su padre. Su toque la ha curado.
Todos hemos tenido esas experiencias en algún momento u otro. Al igual que la mujer, hemos experimentado enfermedades o tragedias que nos han dejado sintiéndonos separados del resto de la sociedad. Nos sentimos aislados y solos con lo que sea que nos esté sucediendo. Es posible que nos sintamos muertos por dentro e incapaces de conectarnos con los demás.
Nuestra sanación surge a través del tacto, dentro de las relaciones. Jesús no sólo cura los males físicos, sino que nos sana a través de una relación íntima, siendo tan amado y apreciado que todo dentro de nuestro mundo cambia. Cualquiera que sea el nombre que nos dieron nuestros padres, lo que sea que nos suceda en esta vida, el toque de Jesús, su suave llamado de “Hija” o “Hijo” nos restaura a una relación profunda que supera el dolor, la tragedia o la enfermedad.
Estamos llamados a estar en relación, tanto con Dios como con los demás. Que nosotros, como la mujer y como Jairo, nos abramos al toque sanador y restaurador de Jesús. Que nosotros, como Jesús, nos abramos a las relaciones con quienes están fuera de nuestro círculo normal. Que Él obre su toque sanador a través de nosotros.
Sheryl’s first calling is to be wife and partner to Tom, who is a candidate for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. She also gets to live out her passion for teaching and learning by serving as principal at St. Therese Catholic School in Wayland, Michigan. Home is full with Carlyn, our goofy golden retriever, Lucy, our terrier mix wild child, and Mila, our very special Bernese Mountain dog.
Feature Image Credit: Claudio Schwarz, unsplash.com/photos/two-human-hands-painting-k39RGHmLoV8
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