"There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind Him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?" But His disciples said to Jesus, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'" And He looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.""
"If I but touch His clothes, I shall be cured."
After being afflicted with illness for so long, this woman held on to a hope and faith that if she could but touch the CLOTHES of the son of God, she would be healed. And, in the end, it was that exact faith that healed and saved her.
This led me to reflect on the fact that we each are given the opportunity to approach the altar where Jesus is each and every week, except, not only are we approaching it and touching His clothes, we are given the opportunity to EXPERIENCE Him and WELCOME Him into our bodies physically through the breaking of the bread and sharing of the wine.
Each of us has our own affliction that we carry. Such as this woman held faith that even touching His clothes would bring healing, we should have faith that approaching the altar and sharing in the body and blood of Christ will bring the healing we so desire as well. Healing may come in overwhelming monsoons or small drizzles as God works in many different ways, just keep the faith when you approach Jesus week after week for He will not turn you away.
May the peace of Christ fill your hearts and minds. God bless!
