Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year B

The bleeding woman is a miracle of Jesus Christ recounted in three Gospels. It is the symbol of faith, just like the miracle of Jairus’ daughter, described in the same chapter. For St Peter Chrysologus, the two miracles recounted at the same time (that of the bleeding woman and that of Jairus’ daughter) are both symbols of faith1. The faith shown by this woman who finds herself worthy to touch the bottom of Christ’s robe; and, the faith given by Jesus in performing evident signs that demonstrate his divine bond, and, with this fact, the existence of God. For Thierry Murcia, the question of the historical background of the Gospel accounts. Two healings on one day of Kippur: the haemorrhage and resurrection of the daughter of Jairus and the possessed of Gerasa/Gadara, in ancient Judaism.

From the Gospel according to Mark

21 Jesus returned to the other side in the boat, and a large crowd gathered around him. He was on the seashore. 22 One of the leaders of the synagogue, named Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet 23 and begged him, « My daughter, who is still so young, is at the end of her life. Come and lay your hands on her, that she may be saved and live.  « 24 Jesus went with him, and the crowd that followed him was so large that it overwhelmed him.

25 Now there was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had had much trouble with the treatment of many doctors, and had spent all her wealth, and had not obtained the slightest improvement; on the contrary, her condition had worsened… 27 This woman, therefore, when she heard what was said about Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said to herself, « If only I could touch his garment, I would be saved.

29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was cured of her disease. 30 Immediately Jesus realized that a power had come out of him. He turned to the crowd and asked, « Who has touched my clothes?  » 31 His disciples answered, « You see the crowd crushing you and ask, ‘Who touched me ? « . 32 But he looked around to see the one who had done this.

33 Then the woman, seized with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him the whole truth. 34 Jesus said to her, « Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed of your evil.  » 35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue, and said to him, « Your daughter has just died. » What is the use of still disturbing the Master ?  « 

36 When Jesus heard these words, he said to the leader of the synagogue, « Do not fear, but believe. »   » 37 He did not let anyone accompany him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 They arrived at the house of the leader of the synagogue. Jesus saw the commotion and the people crying and shouting at the top of their voices. He came in and said to them, « What is this commotion and crying ? The child is not dead: she is sleeping « 

40 But they laughed at him. Then he put everyone outside, took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child lay. 41 He took the child’s hand and said to her, « Talitha koum, » which means, « Young lady, I say to you, get up !   » 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk – she was indeed twelve years old. They were struck with great astonishment. 43 And Jesus firmly commanded them not to let anyone know; then he told them to let her eat (Mk 5, 21-43)

Your faith has saved you !

Mark brings together here in one narrative two intertwined stories. Matthew and Luke have followed the same procedure. First of all, two figures are on the scene. Two female figures: a girl and a woman. And in both cases faith is at the heart of the steps taken with Jesus. In the case of the incurable woman, there is no request. It is a step of faith and hope in Jesus on the part of this woman that will bring her immediate healing.And through this story,

I understand the importance of this step of faith and hope. You see, it is faith that is lacking, said the saintly Curé d’Ars. When we say: My God, I believe, I believe firmly, that is to say, without the slightest hesitation, we join in the faith of this woman of whom the Gospel speaks today. This woman, who had been bleeding for twelve years and who had spent a lot of money without any improvement and whose condition had rather worsened, having heard what was said about Jesus, came from behind into the crowd and touched his garment.

In one of his homilies, the Curé d’Ars said about faith : « I believe that if we had faith, we would be masters of God’s will… He would not deny us anything !  » The woman suffering from hemorrhage thought that if she could touch Jesus’ garment, she would be saved. At that very moment, the bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was healed of her chronic illness.

Mark, in his gospel, shows us the power of life and salvation that works in Jesus for people who have faith, while it goes unnoticed by non-believers. « Your faith has saved you!   « (Mt 9, 22c ; Mk 5, 34 ; Lk 8, 48) This word of Jesus highlights the meaning of the event: beyond the physical healing what is important is the faith that saves. It is important that we can touch Jesus today.

Yes, because what is at stake is the concrete way in which we can live the mystery of the resurrection. This whole episode shows that faith in Jesus even manages to wrest from him a totally involuntary miracle. The raising of the daughter of Jairus at his feet evokes the resurrection of Jesus. This story in our synoptic gospels is a testimony to Jesus’ sovereign power over life and death. Jesus is indeed fully victorious over the forces of evil and death.

The word of God sounds the same for all Christians gathered together, the body of Christ distributed in communion is the same for all. Am I that man or woman who hears and touches Jesus in faith? It is not enough to have met Christ at Mass, we must follow him and build our lives with the means he gives us.

Deacon Michel Houyoux

Links to other christian websites

◊ Father Hanly : click here to read the paper →Homily for 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

◊ Young catholics   : click here to read the paper → 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B (2021)

♥  Father Jayme’s homily for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time