Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
After our third child was born we had a little scare in the hospital. My wife, Bess, was getting cold and was having trouble staying awake. We discovered that she was hemorrhaging. The doctor returned treated her and we thought she was good to go. For a stretch of time, probably close to a month, we continued to see signs that concerned us and her energy stayed incredibly low. In the end, we returned to the doctors and found that she needed a little more medical attention to be treated. Ever since then we have had an attachment to the story of the hemorrhaging woman. We even have a painting of her that Bess' sister made.
This powerful story of God's power to save and heal has so much to offer to all of us. What I want to draw our attention to is the power of the witness. Jarius, a synagogue official, first comes to Jesus without cause for much hope. His daughter has just died, or as Mark tells it, is near death. Jesus begins to travel with him. They stop when the scene with the hemorrhaging woman occurs.
If Jarius had any doubts about asking Jesus to come to heal his daughter, they likely just rode a rollercoaster. First, I imagine they were moving as quickly through the streets as possible while keeping their composure. Second, he is likely concerned when Jesus stops to begin interacting with the hemorrhaging woman. Then the magnitude of the healing that just took place probably strikes him. This healing likely strengthens his own hope and faith. This allows him to fully trust that Jesus can save his daughter. What began as an unexpected side exchange became a source of encouragement for Jarius.
The synagogue official entrusted his daughter to Jesus because of the witness born by the healing of the hemorrhaging woman. Do we allow God's work in others' lives to buoy our faith?
- Spencer Hargadon