Gospel of Mark, chapter 5:28

Touching can express love and acceptance of the other person in ways that words cannot express. It is a two-way street for it affects both the person touched and the person doing the touching. The story of the woman in the gospel ( Mark 5:25-34) who “suffered terribly from severe bleeding for twelve years” illustrates the power of Jesus’ touch, and the faith of the woman who touched Him.

Jesus broke through the barriers of traditional prejudice which condemned contact with those considered impure, such as the woman suffering from hemorrhage (Leviticus 15:19-30). By restoring health to this woman, Jesus did what He was not supposed to do; namely, He touched and allowed Himself to be touched by someone whom the law declared unclean.

No wonder the disciples wanted Jesus to have nothing to do with this woman. When Jesus asked: “who touched my clothes?” the disciples answered: “you see how the people are crowding you; why do you ask who touched you?”

There are two types of touching going on here. There is the touch of the crowd that produced nothing; and there is the touch of the woman that produced healing. The woman’s touch was not indifferent like that of the crowd; it sprung from a deep faith and released the healing power of Jesus. “My daughter,” said Jesus, “Your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your trouble.” (Mark 5:34).

If Jesus approached you today in the hospital or in your home, how would you touch Him? Would it be an indifferent touch or would you touch Him with faith? Well, He comes to you in the hospital and in your home, when you are sick, through the anointing of the priest. How do you receive this touch? Do you receive it with gratitude or indifference?

The way you receive the anointing of the Lord makes all the difference if you want to be healed.

Jesus touches us in all kinds of ways. He touches us in the Eucharist, not just with His clothes but with His very body; He touches our hearts and our ears with His saving words in scripture; He touches our eyes by the example of others who follow Him, faithfully. But, you need to respond to the Lord’s touch with a faith like that of the woman in today’s gospel who said to herself, “if I just touch His clothes, I will get well.”

Fr. Hugh Duffy