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     The Gospel According to Mark has shown us that Jesus has power over nature (calming the sea) and demons (the Gerasene demoniac) and now we learn that he has power over sickness and death.  The long gospel passage today is actually two stories which the evangelist has arranged sandwich-style with the story of the raising of the daughter of Jairus in the bread part and the woman with the hemorrhage of blood in the filling part.  Both Jairus and the lady show faith in Jesus' ability to heal, and that is sufficient.  Jesus' comment to the lady says it all, "Your faith has saved you."  At Jairus' house, Jesus tells Jairus, "Do not be afraid; just have faith."

     It is the lady with the hemorrhage who captures my attention because of an incident that occurred when I was pastor of a parish in San Antonio (1994-98).  During Mass one Sunday, my assistant pastor was celebrating the Mass and I was on "pastor patrol" and went into the vestibule of the church.  Down at one end of the vestibule were some boys sitting on a bench and being boys.  I invited them to join the congregation and they got up and went in.  I turned around and there was a woman and man standing also in the vestibule.  I invited them to join the congregation but the woman declined, saying she and her companion preferred to stay out in the vestibule.  I replied earnestly, "But the Church is gathered inside!"  She replied, "The Church is gathered out here, too!"  That shut me up, and I have avoided making anyone change location in the church since then.  That lady felt that the best she could do is touch the hem of the garment.  If that's as far as her faith could bring her, it had to be sufficient.  Ushers and pastors need to feel that touch of faith even in the midst of a great crowd of people and let it be sufficient.

     It is not just ushers and pastors, however.  Some folks are desperate, as were Jairus and the lady, and maybe their faith is only connected to the one problem they are experiencing, but it is faith.  Responding to that one occasion can be the beginning of a further growth.  Inordinate zeal can chase people away just as insensitivity to the problem can.  We can pray for wisdom to avoid either extreme and welcome anyone who is hurting to a church that Pope Francis calls a "field hospital for the sick and wounded."  AMEN