Touch of Faith

Gospel reflection for Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 - Mark 5:21-43

Today we get to talk about the power of faith.

Now, faith can mean a lot of things to a lot of people but lets start with the definition -

“complete trust or confidence in someone or something.”

In the Gospel we see two people, a woman and a girl, in dire need of Christ’s healing touch. The first is a woman who has suffered at the hands of numerous doctors for years. She has bled for 12 years. If you know of Jewish law, this meant she was considered unclean for 12 years.

Ostracized, isolated, alone.

She reached out, in complete confidence, and despite Jesus being surrounded and pushed about by a crowd, the Gospel states He was “aware at once that power had gone out from him.” He noticed her touch. The touch of faith.

When she touched His cloak, she was immediately healed, and trembling, fell before Him telling Him everything. Jesus’ response “Daughter, your faith has saved you.

Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”

The other person we encounter is a young child, who is desperately ill, and her father is begging Jesus to heal her, completely trusting that He is able to do so. While Jesus was still speaking to the now healed woman, synagogue officials arrived with the news that the young girl had died. Jesus replied “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” When they arrive, all in the household and around it are mourning bitterly. After putting everyone out of the house, except the mother and father of the child, and those allowed with Him, He went to the girl. Holding her hand, Jesus speaks life to her “Talitha koum” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” and so she did.

The power of faith.

It can seem so simple in these two incredible stories, to just have faith. Yet, we know from living life that having faith doesn’t come so easily. It is hard to stare down chronic illness, unpaid bills, empty fridges, an unexpected diagnosis, a termination of employment, when tomorrow looks bleak, and fear creeps in like an unwelcome house guest.

Friends, today’s Gospel is a firm reminder that we are called to be like the woman, and like Jairus. We are called to have complete trust that Jesus is who He says He is. It’s not that our problems will magically go away because of faith, but that we completely place our trust in Christ that matters. We are called to have faith in Christ not because of what He can do for us but because of who He is.

He is the Word who took on flesh. Who walked this earth for love of us, and then died to free us from the death of sin. He is the one who speaks life over the death in our lives, every day. The one who can heal us, even if it’s bit by bit, if we simply have enough faith to touch the hem of His cloak.

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat
to the other side,
a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea.
One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward.
Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying,
"My daughter is at the point of death.
Please, come lay your hands on her
that she may get well and live."
He went off with him
and a large crowd followed him.

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 him,
"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."

While he was still speaking,
people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said,
"Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?"
Disregarding the message that was reported,
Jesus said to the synagogue official,
"Do not be afraid; just have faith."
He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside
except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.
When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official,
he caught sight of a commotion,
people weeping and wailing loudly.
So he went in and said to them,
"Why this commotion and weeping?
The child is not dead but asleep."
And they ridiculed him.
Then he put them all out.
He took along the child's father and mother
and those who were with him
and entered the room where the child was.
He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum,"
which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"
The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around.
At that they were utterly astounded.
He gave strict orders that no one should know this
and said that she should be given something to eat.