‘The Encounter’ by Daniel Cariola. Photo Credit: Liam Doherty
Reflection by Liam Doherty.
Catholic Identity and Religious Education Adviser
Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Ltd
First Reading: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:7. 9. 13-15
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43
There is a beautiful simplicity to Mark’s narrative about the Haemorrhaging Woman (5:12 -43), yet it masks the complexity of his message. My attention is drawn immediately to the two miracles that occur in what can be referred to as a Markan Sandwich, where the first Miracle story surrounds a second miracle story like two pieces of bread with a filling in between. The story of the raising of Jairus’ daughter links directly with the First Reading from the book of Wisdom, “Death was not God’s doing…” God calls us to life with him, and through Jesus the miracle of the haemorrhaging woman is also a ‘raising to life’ of sorts. Being cured allows this woman to ‘live again’ as a member of society after 12 years of exclusion and isolation as ritually unclean. She is now able to rejoin her community, her family and her synagogue. Through Jesus, both the haemorrhaging woman and Jairus’ daughter are raised to life.
Then my attention is drawn to the actions of the characters within the story. Namely the haemorrhaging woman and Jairus. It was faith that brought them to Jesus, but it was the incredible courage of both these desperate people which initiated the healing. In the case of the bleeding woman, consider the immense courage it must have taken to shun the intense social norms and purity laws of first century Judaism, to dare to touch this man who drew so many. Think of the consequences she may have suffered had things gone differently. Instantly I am drawn back to the Chapel of the Encounter, a small chapel in the church of Duc in Altum in the town of Magdala in Galilee. On the wall behind the sanctuary is a breathtaking painting by Daniel Cariola of this courageous woman, hand reaching along the dusty ground, stretching through the feet of the crowd, with fingers grasping desperately to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. It is a powerful image. An image of outrageous courage, a courage born of faith.
I think too of the courage of Jairus, a synagogue official, risking his own reputation and social standing to fall on his knees before Jesus and plead for the life of his young daughter. I think of the immense courage that Jairus displayed to remain hopeful even when Jesus was waylaid by the bleeding woman. I can only imagine the concern and the panic rising in him, waiting for Jesus to attend to his daughter. I wonder at the sudden despair that Jairus felt when he was informed by his householders that his daughter had died. It was here that Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Do not be afraid; only have faith.”
Jairus remained courageous, even as Jesus was mocked and laughed at when he went to attend to the girl. It was Jairus’ courage, his faith which paved the path for the overwhelming joy he must have felt when the young girl was raised back to life.
The deep courage displayed by the bleeding woman and by Jairus is courage which is born through faith. Faith that in Jesus they could find life and that with Jesus, death had no power. Courage allowed them to take the risks, to stand firm against ridicule and judgement, and to reach towards Jesus. To seek Jesus out and to act.
We are also called to find courage through faith. To find the courage to seek Jesus out, and the courage to act. Each Sunday we are commissioned to leave Mass and to bring the life-giving hope and joy of the Gospel to our communities. To be the hands, feet, eyes, ears and voice of Jesus in our world. In his address to the thousands of gathered youth at the closing Mass of the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Pope Francis urged, “Be not afraid … it is Jesus himself who is looking at you in this moment, he is looking at you, He knows you, he knows the heart of each one of you, he knows the life of each one of you, he knows the joys, he knows the sadness, the successes and the failures…Be not afraid, be not afraid, take heart, be not afraid.”
