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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

 

Today's Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

Jesus’ encounter with the hemorrhaging woman is unique within the Gospels. In other healing narratives, Jesus intentionally cures the afflicted. Yet in today’s Gospel, a desperate woman takes matters into her own hands. Although Jesus recognizes his own diminished power, He cannot immediately ascertain who has caused the loss.

According to the Jewish purity laws of the 1st century, menstrual blood rendered a woman temporarily unclean. A woman with ongoing hemorrhaging would have been considered perpetually unclean. An unclean woman approaching and touching a man to whom she was not related would have been a violation of multiple Jewish laws. Her fear in approaching Jesus was justified by the perceived gravity of the situation.

Jesus, of course, can see the woman for who she is – a woman rooted in complete faith. He wishes her to go in peace, accordingly.

I have often reflected on the bravery of the hemorrhaging woman. Essentially, there were no taboos that would prevent her from approaching Jesus.

Sometimes, I hesitate to pray about some situation, rationalizing that Jesus has war, famine, and many other grave matters to deal with at that moment. Does He really need to be bothered about my hopes for the upcoming school fundraiser?

But here is the takeaway: Jesus is never bothered by those of faith seeking a relationship with Him. There are no limits to the magnanimity of His love for us.

The hemorrhaging woman reminds me to bring it all to the table.

 

Ponder:

 

How does the hemorrhaging woman inspire your own relationship with Jesus?

 

Pray:


Jesus of generosity, we thank You for seeing who each of us is in the recesses of our hearts. Please heal our minds, our bodies, and our spirits of all afflictions.

 


Daily Gospel 2

 


Copyright 2025 Janelle Peregoy