THIRTEENTH SUNDAY "B"

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR “B”

Mark 5, 21 – 43: Jesus Heals

Introduction:          Jesus continues to heal today, and has made available to us the sacrament of confession and the anointing of the sick. Through these sacraments we encounter Christ – the same grace that brought healing two thousand years ago is made present, and the hope of healing is real. This is the clear teaching of the Church  -  healings, miracles, and God’s interventions are not a matter of the past; today is the day of salvation, today we can know God’s action and healing in our lives.

The Homily           Illness and death are not a matter of theory and abstract thinking. When illness strikes down someone close to us, it is a matter of practical concern and a cause of anguish and suffering. We don’t want to see a loved one suffer. Today we meet this anguish and pain in two people: Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter was dying, and an anonymous woman who had been subject to haemorrhaging and blood loss for over twelve years. These were real situations, involving real people with real suffering.

The woman with an issue of blood would never have been able to take part in the major religious ceremonies or partake in pilgrim festivals. Many people would not allow her into their company for fear of being defiled themselves. Her condition put her beyond any social or religious gathering. Both the woman and Jesus knew all of this too well  -  and yet she touches Jesus and he does not object. Once she has touched him, most religious Jews would have regarded him also as unclean. In this state of uncleanness, Jesus then goes to the home of Jairus where he then touches the body of the dead child. Jesus “took the child by the hand” – clearly incurring further defilement.

These two stories indicate the radical inclusiveness of Jesus. The religious Jews must have seen him as a severe threat to their culture and to the Temple itself. Once the woman with the issue of blood had “healed” she could be included in Temple worship and ritual. Jesus was enabling the most unlikely people to live full lives in society. He threatened the exclusivity and divisions of those around him.

What is clear and overwhelming is that Jesus has the power to heal and transform human suffering. In those two situations Jesus intervened in a dramatic and powerful way. The woman had said to herself: “If I just touch his clothes I will be healed.” She did and she was. Jesus said to the dead girl: “Little girl, I say to you, arise,” and she who was dead got up! Jesus is the Lord and he has the power to heal, which he has done from that day to this. We should not be afraid to turn to Jesus for healing; we should not be timid about asking God to heal, restore and transform. Rather, we should be like Jairus and the woman who turned to Jesus in their need and utter desperation.

Now let’s take the point a little further. We ask not only for our own healing, but we can also become agents of other people’s healing. If you want to help other people to become holy you must be holy yourself. Those who have the care of souls cannot do their work without being holy. If you are going to be part of the healing process by giving your blood in a transfusion, for instance, then your blood must be healthy.

In the last fifty years the charismatic movement has brought about a lot of healing from illnesses. But in the last two thousand years the Church has been healing through the Anointing of the Sick. The formula for anointing is the following: as the priest anoints the forehead he says, “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.” And when he anoints the hands he says, “May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”

From this formula you get an idea of the three effects of the sacrament of the sick:

forgiveness of sins (without the need of confessing sins in detail)

strength to bear the pain of the illness

restoration of health, if expedient for the soul.

From my pastoral experience, I may be permitted to inform you that 95% of the people I have anointed have recovered.

Of course, we must not neglect the medication, and all that goes with it, like rest and special diet, since these are also gifts of God. Medicine and sacrament work hand in hand. Science and religion work together; technology and theology are for the betterment of humankind. So our advice is always when you call the medical doctor inform the priest as well.

Just a little of information for the benefit of all. If the priest you call happens to forget to bring along the Holy Oil, all you need do is to give him a little vegetable oil, which he will bless with a simple blessing and proceed with the Anointing. Vegetable oil, I said, like olive, mustard or sunflower; but not mineral oil like petrol or diesel. (Don’t want the sick person feel like an engine!).

PRAYER:    Jesus our healer, we place in your gentle hands those of us who are sick.

Ease their pain, and heal the damage done to them in body, mind or spirit.

Be present to them through the support of friends and in the care of doctors and nurses, and fill them with the warmth of your love now and always. Amen.