If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured

9 JULY (Mt 9,18-26)

With Jesus faith enters a very high dimension. Never up to now had a person’s body been regarded as a source of miracle. Everything was based on the almighty word of the Lord. It was either God who said, and things happened, or it was the man of God that said in the name of God and things were fulfilled. Sometimes it was God who promised, and things were accomplished. Other times, it was man who with a heartfelt prayer, made with the tears of the heart, tore God the hoped for grace. It is the case of Anna: “When the day came for Elkanah to offer sacrifice, he used to give a portion each to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters, but a double portion to Hannah because he loved her, though the Lord had made her barren. Her rival, to upset her, turned it into a constant reproach to her that the Lord had left her barren. This went on year after year; each time they made their pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Lord, Peninnah would approach her, and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat. Her husband Elkanah used to ask her: “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you refuse to eat? Why do you grieve? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” Hannah rose after one such meal at Shiloh, and presented herself before the Lord; at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the Lord’S temple. In her bitterness she prayed to the Lord, weeping copiously, and she made a vow, promising: “O Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head.” As she remained long at prayer before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, “How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” “It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the Lord. Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She replied, “Think kindly of your maidservant,” and left. She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and no longer appeared downcast. (1Sam 1,4-18).

Previously there had been the prayer of Isaac for his wife Rebecca. Rachel was also heard in her prayer: “Isaac entreated the Lord on behalf of his wife, since she was sterile. The Lord heard his entreaty, and Rebekah became pregnant. But the children in her womb jostled each other so much that she exclaimed, “If this is to be so, what good will it do me!” She went to consult the Lord, and he answered her: “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples are quarreling while still within you; But one shall surpass the other, and the older shall serve the younger.” (Gen 25,19-23).Then God remembered Rachel; he heard her prayer and made her fruitful. She conceived and bore a son, and she said, “God has removed my disgrace.” So she named him Joseph, meaning, “May the Lord add another son to this one for me!” (Gen 30,22-24). But in memory of Holy Scripture a faith so strong is not remembered. But also in memory of Holy Scripture, such omnipotent, holy, and strong person is not to be found before now.

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.

The faith of the hemorrhage woman must teach us that every one of us needs be capable of great discernment; and distinguish person from person, man from man, woman from woman, prayer from prayer, faith from faith, love from love, and hope from hope. Before a new reality you cannot live with an ancient faith. The updating of the faith is of vital necessity for all. A faith that is always new and live is a source of life.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption; Angels and Saints give us this new, alive faith.