This hidden detail in the Gospels changes everything...
One of the most beautiful and profound scenes in scripture takes place in Luke chapter 8. The same story is repeated in Mark, chapter 5. In the story, a woman suffering from hemorrhages approaches Jesus and reaches for the tassel of his prayer shawl. Jesus notices the power has left him and says, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’” (Luke 8:48)
There is a lot more happening here than people realize. To fully understand it, you have to read the context around the healing.
Both Mark and Luke recount the story similarly, Jesus is heading to heal the 12 year old daughter of a synagogue official and he encounters this woman along the way. This woman has been bleeding for 12 years - the same age as the girl Jesus is traveling to heal. This is an important clue.
In addition, according to the Mosaic Law, a woman who bled after child birth was considered ritually unclean for as long as she was bleeding (Leviticus 15:25–30). Any person or thing she touched became ritually unclean as well.
Despite this, the woman touches the tassel of Jesus' prayer shawl - it's why she approaches him trembling and falls on her face. But the key here is her faith. The decision to touch his prayer shawl directly links to an Old Testament prophesy. The prophet Malachi says the Messiah "will arrive with healing in his wings." "Wings" was a common term for describing the corners of a prayer shawl. So, this woman who has been outcast for 12 years, unable to touch her family or associate in society, is in this simple gesture proclaiming him Messiah and desperately seeking his help.
Now, this is where it gets interesting. Why do the Gospel writers note that the girl is 12 years old and the woman has suffered from her condition for 12 years? Why are their stories connected? Perhaps she is the wife of the synagogue official and mother of the little girl? I recognize this is speculative but the details are hard to ignore. Her bleeding started at the same time as her birth. In addition, we know this was a learned woman of financial means. She spent years on expensive doctors. She studied the scriptures and knew the prophecy of Malachi. This requires a level of wealth and education befitting the wife of a synagogue official. And her hemorrhaging is unfortunately a condition that a synagogue official could not have in his home.
But, her heart cries out to Jesus. And Jesus heals her and calls her "daughter."
We then learn that the other daughter - the little girl has died. Jesus goes on to heal the little girl - bringing her back from the dead, "Little girl, rise." It is mentioned that the Father and Mother are in the room with the little girl alongside Jesus and the Apostles. God's love has reunited a family.
This could just be two separate stories about Jesus healing two different women. Or, it could be the story of the healing of an entire family. A Mother's return to her daughter and a husbands reconciliation with his wife. And it all starts with a mother's perseverance and profound act of faith.
The most Sacred Heart of Jesus is opened by suffering and faith - his suffering and ours - and from it power flows. All we have to do is trust in his Mercy.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart is this Friday, and it's a wonderful time to approach the heart of Jesus at Mass, proclaim him Messiah and ask for healing in your life and in your family. If you need a reminder of his healing power, we have a beautiful new bracelet for women featuring the Sacred Heart with the tassel of a prayer shawl - to serve as a constant reminder that with faith, there is healing in His wings.
Each bracelet comes with a prayer card featuring scriptures from this story.
God bless you,
Matt
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