Today’s gospel includes two marvelous healing stories – a twelve year old girl whois at the point of death and a woman who has been suffering with hemorrhages for twelve years. The number twelve is significant. It signifies the new people of Israel, the new people of God, the community of believers living today. Through Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, God has the power to bring us healing and to raise us up.
The sense of touch is involved in both healings. Jesus took the girl by the hand and raised her up. The woman reached out and touched the cloak of Jesus. This healing touch of Jesus is part of the celebration of the sacrament of anointing of the sick today. The risen Christ continues to reach out and touch us in a healing and hopeful way.
When have you experienced the presence of Christ reaching out to you? When have you been an instrument of the healing touch of Christ reaching out to other people?