That woman manages to touch the hem of the garment and is instantly healed. She feels that she is healed; Jesus feels that a healing power has gone out of her body. Mark's Gospel helps to relate the two sensitive perceptions, that of Jesus and that of the woman. Mark says of the woman: "And suddenly the fountain of blood dried up and she felt in her body that she was cured of the disease." And Jesus: "And suddenly Jesus knew in Himself the power that came out of Him, and He turned to the crowd and said, "Who touched My cloaks? The woman understands that he is referring to her. It is not surprising that, when she felt the instantaneous healing, Jesus also felt in her body that a healing contact had taken place. Saying: who touched my garments, he reveals that he knows the action performed by the woman. Jesus pays no attention to the disciples who do not understand his question, but looks around him.
For the woman the message is for her, it is personal. "I know you, I know of your sickness, that you touched my clothes, that you feel that you are healed, and now you also know that I know it." Christ wants to know her with his eyes and listen to her with the ear of his humanity, to lay his hands on this woman he has just healed; his divine knowledge is not enough for him. He wants to help her not to be afraid of him, of herself, of her illness, of society, of faith, of the miracle she has just received. Jesus seeks the woman's gaze, he wants to encourage her to come out into the light. The woman understands that everything is clear in the mind of the Son of Man and lets herself be seen by everyone, frightened and trembling. She knows that she is impure according to the law of Leviticus (15, 25 ff.), AND she knows that anyone who touches her is impure, by the law of Moses. She wanted to be cured, but she did not want to make Jesus impure; that is why she only touched his cloak. Jesus wants to let him know that the problem of impurity no longer exists, he does not have to wait for days and days. She is cured, she is a normal woman, she no longer has to be afraid.
The woman comes out of the crowd. She fears the judgment of men. But Jesus' voice gives her courage. Shaken by emotions, she steps forward and throws herself on the ground in front of him. And she tells him the whole truth. The truth Christ explains to her is that she had done nothing wrong: it was good for everyone to know; her pain was not her fault. He had not stolen her healing: he had gladly given it to her and now he repeated it to her in front of everyone, healing her even in her soul. She would no longer have to fear that her scourge would return. The merit was also hers: thanks to her faith, which Jesus does not hesitate to praise. He says it to all the recipients of the Gospel: look at this woman too, learn from her; have faith and try to touch the Lord.
That woman manages to touch the hem of the garment and is instantly healed. She feels that she is healed; Jesus feels that a healing power has gone out of her body. Mark's Gospel helps to relate the two sensitive perceptions, that of Jesus and that of the woman. Mark says of the woman: "And suddenly the fountain of blood dried up and she felt in her body that she was cured of the disease." And Jesus: "And suddenly Jesus knew in Himself the power that came out of Him, and He turned to the crowd and said, "Who touched My cloaks? The woman understands that he is referring to her. It is not surprising that, when she felt the instantaneous healing, Jesus also felt in her body that a healing contact had taken place. Saying: who touched my garments, he reveals that he knows the action performed by the woman. Jesus pays no attention to the disciples who do not understand his question, but looks around him.
For the woman the message is for her, it is personal. "I know you, I know of your sickness, that you touched my clothes, that you feel that you are healed, and now you also know that I know it." Christ wants to know her with his eyes and listen to her with the ear of his humanity, to lay his hands on this woman he has just healed; his divine knowledge is not enough for him. He wants to help her not to be afraid of him, of herself, of her illness, of society, of faith, of the miracle she has just received. Jesus seeks the woman's gaze, he wants to encourage her to come out into the light. The woman understands that everything is clear in the mind of the Son of Man and lets herself be seen by everyone, frightened and trembling. She knows that she is impure according to the law of Leviticus (15, 25 ff.), AND she knows that anyone who touches her is impure, by the law of Moses. She wanted to be cured, but she did not want to make Jesus impure; that is why she only touched his cloak. Jesus wants to let him know that the problem of impurity no longer exists, he does not have to wait for days and days. She is cured, she is a normal woman, she no longer has to be afraid.
The woman comes out of the crowd. She fears the judgment of men. But Jesus' voice gives her courage. Shaken by emotions, she steps forward and throws herself on the ground in front of him. And she tells him the whole truth. The truth Christ explains to her is that she had done nothing wrong: it was good for everyone to know; her pain was not her fault. He had not stolen her healing: he had gladly given it to her and now he repeated it to her in front of everyone, healing her even in her soul. She would no longer have to fear that her scourge would return. The merit was also hers: thanks to her faith, which Jesus does not hesitate to praise. He says it to all the recipients of the Gospel: look at this woman too, learn from her; have faith and try to touch the Lord.
