Our scripture readings this weekend speak to the transformative power of faith in our lives and God’s inherent goodness. Our gospel presents us with two intertwined stories involving the healing of a woman who suffered from an illness for twelve years and a twelve-year-old girl whose life was restored. With both healings, we are reminded that it was faith that made them whole.
In our gospel reading, the two women represent the People of God, the community of believers. The number twelve was an important number for the Jewish people as it was a reminder of the twelve tribes of Israel and spoke to the people as a whole. The two women who were restored to health represent God’s people, the community of believers. The woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years had been forced to live on the margins of society, as she was deemed “unclean” by the religious leaders. On the other hand, the young girl who was at the point of death was the daughter of a religious leader, living far from the margins of society. God’s love made no distinction between the two. Both were restored to health and called “daughter” by Jesus.
The message for us to contemplate is the importance of faith in our lives. Jesus reminds us to trust in his goodness with the words, “Do not be afraid, just have faith.” While we may not always experience healing or be shielded from suffering, we are invited to allow Jesus to calm the storms that we encounter in life, knowing that we are God’s People, and we are made whole in God’s love.
May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forever more.