A woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years, who [had spent her whole livelihood on doctors and] was unable to be cured by anyone, 44 came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 Jesus then asked, “Who touched me?” While all were denying it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are pushing and pressing in upon you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone has touched me; for I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling. Falling down before him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately. 48 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
A woman suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years had exhausted her entire livelihood on medical treatments that did not cure her. Under Jewish law, she would have been in a state of constant ritual impurity (Lv. 15:25-27). In desperation, she touched the tassel of Jesus’ cloak with the faith that it would be enough to heal her. Based on Jewish law, Jesus would have been rendered ritually impure when the woman touched him (Lv. 15:19-27). The Gospels frequently depict Jesus as having authority over purity laws so rather than being made impure, Jesus made the one who touched him pure. Jesus often reinterpreted the Jewish law and focused on restoring the sick to health and community rather than on ceremonial laws.
Jesus asked who touched him and even though the crowd was thronging and pressing against him, everyone denied touching him. In his Divine nature, Jesus knew that healing power had gone out of him which was a testament that the transfer of healing power was in response to the woman’s faith (Mk. 10:52; Mt. 9:27-29). The woman, in fear and trembling, publicly confessed to touching Jesus in front of everyone. She was aware of the gravity of what she had done. Jesus addressed her affectionately as “Daughter, " implying that her religious and social standing was reinstated. She was immediately restored in body, mind, and spirit and no longer isolated. This miracle highlights Jesus’ authority over such laws.
Lord Jesus, we come before you broken and in our weakness, longing for healing. Grant us the faith to earnestly seek your presence, trusting in your mercy and power to restore what is broken in us. May we hear your voice say, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Amen.
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Sources:
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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