The Gospel passage tells us something about three people. It tells us about Jesus, the cost of healing. Each time that Jesus healed someone it took something out of Him. The point, we will never do something important in life, especially something that makes a difference in the life of another or our life unless we are prepared to make sacrifices, to put something of ourselves into the action. The greatness of Jesus was that He was prepared to pay the price of helping others.
The Gospel tells us something about the disciples. The disciples took the ‘common sense’ view of the situation. How could Jesus avoid being touched in a crowd like that? But there can be limitations to seeing everything in practical terms, in black and white. In doing that one can miss the complexity that is part of the nature of being human. One of the tragedies of life is when we become so pragmatic that we lose our sensitivity to what another may be going through.
There is also the danger that we become so pragmatic, so focused on achieving something that we lose sight of the possible consequences to others. In the Old Testament reading today David wins the war but loses his beloved son.
Finally, the Gospel tells us something about the woman. It tells us the value and the relief of confession. Her condition was one which the priests and people described as ‘unclean’. It was not easy for her to tell Jesus what was going on physically in her life. But Jesus was by nature very understanding. It is always easier to confess to one who is sensitive and understanding.