The Ritual uncleanliness and the Courage of the Woman

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Fourteenth Week :  Monday*

*Gospel : Mt 9:18-26*

*First Reading : Gn 28:10-22a*

*Responsorial Psalm : 91:1-2, 3-4, 14-15ab*

*The Ritual uncleanliness and the Courage of the Woman*

*1) Her Condition: A Life of Isolation and Shame*

 

According to Leviticus 15:25–27, a woman with a chronic flow of blood was ritually unclean:

She could not participate in temple worship.

Anything or anyone she touched became unclean.

She lived in religious and social isolation — for twelve years.

People may have avoided her, and she likely carried deep shame and spiritual pain.

Like that woman many today feel “unclean” — because of guilt, sin, abuse, sickness, or social rejection.

This woman represents all those who feel unworthy to approach God.

*2) Her Courage: Defying Barriers to Reach Jesus*

She had no right to be in a crowd.

She had no permission to touch a rabbi.

And yet, she dared — not to speak, but simply to reach out in faith.

*“If I only touch His cloak, I will be healed.”* (Matthew 9:21)

Her courage was quiet but bold. She risked public humiliation or even punishment. But faith gave her strength to act. 

True faith often means crossing boundaries — of fear, shame, and doubt — to seek Jesus.

*3) She Touched Him — and Jesus Was Not Defiled*

According to the law, her touch should have made Jesus unclean.

But instead of becoming defiled, Jesus makes her clean.

“Immediately her bleeding stopped…” (Mark 5:29)

“Power had gone out from Him…” (Mark 5:30)

This is the heart of the Gospel:

Our impurity does not pollute Jesus — His holiness purifies us.

Where religion saw danger, Jesus saw a soul longing for healing.

*4) Jesus Restored  her dignity*

He could have let her go silently. But Jesus stopped, turned around, and asked, “Who touched me?”

He wanted a relationship, not just a miracle.

He called her “Daughter” — the only time Jesus uses this title in the Gospels.

Jesus didn’t just heal her body. He restored her dignity, identity, and status. He wanted her to know:

“You are seen. You are loved. You belong.”

*5) Her Healing Was Public, but Her Faith Was Personal*

Though she came in secret, Jesus made her healing known — not to shame her, but to affirm her.

Her personal act of faith became a public testimony of God’s power and mercy.

Jesus wanted everyone to see: Faith is not reserved for the outwardly righteous, but for the broken who believe.

By highlighting her faith, Jesus redefined worthiness — not based on law or status, but on trust in Him.

Like her, we are called not just to be healed in private, but to be witnesses in public.

*6) A Foretaste of the Cross*

The story of two miracles (Jairus’s daughter and the bleeding woman), reveals a deeper truth:

Jesus was not afraid to be touched by the “unclean” — because one day, He would take upon Himself all our uncleanness on the Cross.

There, He would become sin for us (2 Cor 5:21), so that we could become clean forever.

The woman’s courage to touch Jesus is a symbol of our invitation to draw near to the crucified Christ — no matter how unworthy we feel.

Am I ready to touch Jesus?

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*