Canticle 285

for she said, “If I but touch his cloak, I will be made well.” (Mark 5:28, NRSVUE)

Let us consider
this naive
and desperate
faith
of the one
who having nothing left
to lose
has almost
no hope
and yet
does not despair

Even before the apostles
this woman
known as the one with the hemorrhage
is one of the first examples
of faith
a saint
ignored
anonymous
reduced for eternity
to the condition of suffering
from which she was nevertheless
delivered
by Christ
through her faith in him
through the stolen
and then offered
touch
of the fringe of his garment

Condemned to unworthiness
convinced of her own
curse
unworthiness
or whatever else
for years
perhaps for her entire life
she could not have
imagined
looking face to face
let alone being looked at
by God
but if only
she could
touch the shadow
a stray thread
of his clothing
then
then she would be healed

We often glorify
the soldier
who asked
of Jesus
only a word
proclaiming himself
his unworthiness

But how much greater
how much more beautiful is this encounter
with the one
who doesn’t even have to
proclaim
she is less than everyone else
since it is
self-evident
to everyone
that she is reduced
to nothing
to less than begging
stealing
a contact
in the midst of a crush
so as not to bother
not to degrade
the one to whom
she would speak

How much greater
is the restoration
offered by God
in this exchange
affirming to her
not only her salvation
but even more
that she could have
asked for it
stand up
and like the others
like everyone else
addressed a word
to Christ

This woman
trembling
fearful
sensitive to the miracle
immediately
sensitive
to the miracle
manifested
in her
of her blood
which ceases to flow
feeling that life
the joy and beauty of living
finally
after more than a decade
ceases to flee from her
as if she had paid
a year of blood sacrifice
for each tribe of Israel
carrying upon her
the despair
of these children of God
who have built a wall
between faith
and joy

This woman
confesses to Christ
her actions
with shame
perhaps
with disbelief
possibly
with astonishment
undoubtedly
and hears his response

“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:34, NRSVUE)

Through her
again through a woman
the Gospel
reconciles humanity
sweeps away its infirmities
by the outstretched hand
of Christ
which we only need
to graze