The Transforming Touch
Mk 5:21-43

Fr. Jijo Kandamkulathy CMF
Claretian Publications, Macau

The gospel today depicts two miracles, one inserted into the other. One is the healing of a woman who had abnormal bleeding for 12 years. The other, raising the 12-year-old dead daughter of Jairus, the synagogue official. What strikes us first is the mistake of inserting one story into another. On closer analysis, it becomes clear that the author wanted us to read these two as two parts of the same story.

We are intrigued by the repeated reference to 12 years. Both are female characters and very symbolic. This has something to do with the 12 tribes of Israel. The whole of Israel is running out of life. Blood flow symbolizes ebbing out of life, death. And their priests and prophets (physicians) have not managed to heal her. Remember, the word Israel is feminine gender in Hebrew. The 12-year-old girl’s death is indicative of the impending death of Israel and the invitation to trust in Christ for healing and resurrection. So, the stories are not private miracles done to two individuals but a catechesis for Israel as a whole and the community of Christians as well.

Why did the woman touch Jesus secretly? The Jewish law of purity prevents a woman with a flow of blood from contaminating people and things used for rituals (Lev. 15:19-24). It is taboo. Such taboos are prevalent in many other societies, even now. About three years ago, I read the report from Nepal about the death of a girl who was isolated to a hut outside the village during her menstrual period, died of a snake bite. The Jews continue the practice even now.

The person who touches a woman in her monthly blood flow becomes defiled until evening and requires a ritual bath to be considered clean. So, touching Jesus would make Jesus unclean too. This is the reason she goes to touch him in secret. Jesus makes the event public. Beyond the symbolic import of the story, Jesus also makes the biological phenomenon of the woman’s body a normal process beyond defilement. How prophetic Jesus was at that time, considering, even now, most Jews have not changed this taboo! He also proves something else in public, the holy of holies does not get defiled by these impurities.

Another little matter that strikes our attention in the passage is the people’s response to the news of the girl’s death. There is a sense of despondence in them that Jesus will have no power over death. Israel is beyond redemption. Such despondencies are also common in our Church today. There are also moments that people consider. Personal life situations are irredeemable; there are these not-even-God-can-save-us moments. The answer of the Lord is, there is no situation beyond his control. Just trust in his ability to transform us, even out of death.

The personal import of this story is more about the touch that healed. The crowd kept jostling and shoving to get closer to Jesus, and many touched Jesus. There was one touch that stood out. Jesus knew that touch was powerful. It was not even on him, just the fringe of his cloak. Even Jesus was unaware when the power to heal went out of him. Many people who walk around Jesus need not get a transforming effect in life. It is the one who is well disposed and is putting one’s trust in Him who is transformed.

God always gives his blessings, but only when we are disposed enough will we attain them.

© Claretian Publications, Macau
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2024