Memorial of St. John Bosco, priest

Today's Mass Readings

In today’s Gospel passage, we are presented with two miracles. At the beginning of the passage, Jesus is approached by a man named Jairus, who is a synagogue official and whose daughter is ill. Jairus asks Jesus to heal his daughter and Jesus agrees to accompany him back to the home. When they arrive, they find that the little girl has died. However, Jesus goes in and restores her to life. While on the way to the girl’s house, Jesus also encounters a woman who has suffered from hemorrhages for 12 years. The woman has faith that if she merely touches Jesus’ clothing, she will be healed. So, apparently not wanting to bother Jesus, she sneaks up on him, touches his clothing, and is healed.

Both of these episodes together showcase Jesus’ desire to heal us and restore our lives. And especially in light of Jesus’ own resurrection, we can see here the promise of eternal life as Jesus’ gift for all of us. However, if we look more closely at Jesus’ encounter with the woman who is healed by touching his clothing, we can learn something more about Jesus’ concern for us. When Jesus senses that power for healing has gone out of him, he immediately searches for the woman who has touched him and been healed. She, realizing she has been caught, approaches and confesses that she is the one who touched him. Jesus assures her: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” You see, we might be satisfied with merely being healed, like the woman was initially. However, that is not enough for Jesus. He wants to meet us, and especially, he wants us to meet him, because it is in knowing him and the God who has sent him that we have eternal life (see John 17:3).

Reflection by Fr. Aquinas Keusenkothen, OSB