A woman suffering hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his cloak. – Mt 9:20
Imagine Jesus on His way to the Jewish official’s house, accompanied by His Jewish disciples. Jesus Himself was a Jew. Then imagine a Jewish woman, quite apart from the crowd, hurrying after Jesus’ group. I’m pretty sure that she ran after them in fits and bursts. She’d stop now and then, as if hesitating then she would run even faster again to catch up.
You see, Jews do not take kindly to people who suffered from continues bleeding, much less a woman. They avoid these people like lepers. Today, they would have AIDS or TB or SARS. These people were often shooed away, rejected and generally condemned to live outside the city gates.
Yet she braved that one touch. She risked stoning, rejection and public humiliation. Courageous faith. Trust in a God that loves. Just one touch and she found belongingness.
She was restored to the fellowship of her friends, her family and her community. She was restored to her rightful place in Jewish society. She was restored to full, pulsating life.
Just a brief touch on the edge of her Healer’s cloak. Have you touched-base with Jesus today? – Lizza V.
Reflection: When God touches you, your life will never be the same ever again.
Lord I come to You, let my heart be changed, renewed…
Unedited version of the reflection for the 05 July 2004 readings (Hos 2:17-18, 21-22; Ps 145:2-9; Mt 9:18-26) of Kerygma, a widely-circulated Catholic devotional magazine.
