Thirteenth Sunday
Don't Avoid the Woman!
Wis 1:13-24, 2 Cor 8: 7-15, Mk 5: 21-43 or 5:21-24, 35-43
"Daughter…go in peace, be free of this illness."
The lectionary gives us a long and a short choice for the gospel reading. Both selections include
the wonderful story of Jesus bringing back to life Jairus's daughter. We all like that story.
"Little girl, get up," Jesus said, and we see her rising out of bed, wide eyed and full of
wonderment. The shorter reading, however avoids the story of the woman who had been
bleeding for twelve years; not a pleasant thought at all, not one to ponder on a Sunday morning. I
ask you though, don't cut this story out, don't avoid this woman, take the time to meet her too.
Veronica, as she became known in tradition, suffered from some sort of malady, the diagnosis of which we can not be sure, perhaps vaginal bleeding from fibroids. Whatever the disease, the result was like having a perpetual period. Mark points out that she had suffered much from the hands of doctors and spent all of her wealth seeking a cure. But her suffering went deeper than that, she had paid a high price emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Women in those days were considered unclean for seven days after their period. The same applied to giving birth; seven days of impurity for a boy, fourteen if you had a girl. Because of those things natural to a woman, they were barred from places of worship; thirty-three days if you had a son, sixty-six days for a daughter. After these lengthy isolations the woman had to bring a sacrifice in order to be "purified." To come in contact with a woman before she was purified was to become unclean as well. Veronica, because of her bleeding, was continually restricted, always to be avoided, never to be purified.
Veronica heard the stories of Jesus. She knew of his power to heal. "But he is such a holy man, he would never consider reaching out to me, a woman, he would never touch me, an unclean woman, with his healing power. His power is so great though, if I could just sneak a touch of the hem of his garment, then I would be healed," she thought to herself. She must have known the scripture verse prophesying of the Savior, "The Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings." Mal 4: 2. In those days the hem of a man's robe was referred to as the wings. I guess she was a literalist in her biblical interpretation. Whatever, it worked. She touched the Lord's wings and she took flight - her whole being filled with healing sensation. But Jesus was not finished with her. Her healing was not yet complete. He calls out to her. She comes to him. In trembling fear and shame, she tells him her story, her long tale of loneliness and discrimination, her feelings of worthlessness. Jesus says to her, "Go in peace." Not meaning "There, there little woman, everything is O.K. now. Don't trouble your little head anymore." But, "Go in peace as in Shalom. You are totally whole. You are a full human being. You are not second class. Woman be free of this illness, not just your physical problem, but the whole social and religious illness that has caused you so much suffering. You are free. You are liberated. You can approach me the same way as any man can!"
It is significant that Jesus did not tell her to go and present herself to the priest and make an offering, as he did with the healing of the lepers. Such was the requirement of the Law. Just as Jesus had taken authority over nature and demons (Mk 4:35-5:21), he now took authority over religion. He wanted to leave no doubt in anyone's mind that the Canons which differentiated between men and women were now null and void. So clear did he want to make this, that of course, he himself does not go to the temple to offer a sacrifice after having been touched by an unclean woman, but instead goes straight and performs the most powerful of miracles, a resurrection. And we can not fail but see that this was a twelve year old girl he raised from the dead. He is saying "Girl, rise up, walk around, hold your head high. You are soon to become a woman!"
Peace Connections: Making the connection between the Sunday Readings and issues of peace and justice.
Brought to you by the Peace and Justice Commission, Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
Copyright 1995, by Thomas L. Garlitz. "Not for profit" permission to reprint granted.