I decided to continue exploring the same scripture as last Sunday. The reason is that I was unable to share everything I wanted to share with you about these two stories.

As just read, and you may also recall from last week, we encounter two females in today’s gospel reading. One is the 12-year-old daughter of the head of a synagogue, while the other is an adult woman who has been suffering from a flow of blood for 12 years. It is interesting to note that the author of Mark does not report these two episodes separately but places the healing story of the woman with a hemorrhage in the middle of the story of Jairus’ daughter. This manner of writing is called a “sandwich” technique because, just as two slices of bread surround what is in between, so two parts of one story surround the other story in between. As, like a chef, Mark intentionally made a sandwich with these stories, I believe he has a special nutritious message for us today.

Let’s delve into the layers of this well-crafted narrative sandwich without dismantling it. In other words, let’s consume this wholesome narrative by gradually digesting and appreciating its elements of the two stories. My apologies if this metaphor has stirred your appetite. However, we can maintain our hunger for the spiritual nourishment that God provides.

As we are consuming this nutritious narrative sandwich, be curious about what the main ingredient is and what it is that glues this sandwich together.

At the onset of the two narratives, we are introduced to a man who is the leader of a synagogue. He is a member of the Jewish elite. His name, Jairus, is known to us. Most likely because of his elevated social standing, Jairus confidently approaches Jesus and requests him to heal his daughter.

As Jesus is on the way with Jairus to heal his daughter, we meet a woman who has endured bleeding for 12 years. Unlike Jairus, who is a synagogue leader, this woman remains nameless in the narrative. Being nameless, she is part of the masses. She is faceless and insignificant. In fact, she is a social outcast! She is impoverished, ill, considered impure, and hence untouchable. This could be why she didn’t directly request Jesus to heal her, but instead subtly touched his garments. This destitute woman lacks anyone to stand by her, defend her, or support her, unlike Jairus who is present for his daughter. This unnamed woman is utterly alone, grappling with her physical and financial hardships. These contrasts between Jairus and the unnamed woman are now clear to you.

Despite her miserable circumstances, there is one thing that has drawn her to Jesus and led her to even touch his garments. That is her faith. Her faith in the healing power of God through Jesus surpasses her fear and shame stemming from her socio-economic status. Despite being nameless, an outcast, considered impure, penniless, a woman, and lacking a father, husband, or son to advocate for her, she holds onto the faith that Jesus can heal her and reintegrate her into the community.

In the story, we can assume that numerous people have touched Jesus’ garments. This is evident when his disciples replied, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?” Merely touching his garments has not healed people. Faith is required to be healed, and our heroine possesses that faith, which Jesus would soon praise.

By her touching Jesus’ garments, according to the conventional religious beliefs, we now have two unclean individuals: the bleeding woman and Jesus. Because her impurity is believed to be contagious, Jesus has also become impure.

However, observe the reversal. We now have two healthy individuals because spiritual health and wellness are more contagious than illness. God’s law of love and healing operates differently from our fear-based conventional beliefs. So, the healing power of Jesus is more contagious than her prolonged illness.

When Jesus becomes aware of what has just happened and realizes it is she, he says to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” Jesus didn’t say, “My power made you well.” Rather, he said, “Your faith healed you.”

Does anyone remember the Gospel story that we read three weeks ago? The story tells of a storm that arose, causing the disciples to become terrified and wake up Jesus. Jesus stilled the storm and said to the frightened disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no FAITH?” The disciples are consistently described as “people who has no faith” throughout the entire Gospel of Mark.

In contrast, our nameless woman is praised as a person whose faith “has made her well.” The disciples, who still lack faith, do not recognize the heroic action of the nameless woman, whose faith healed her. In fact, the disciples’ inability to realize what happened also resonates with their lack of faith.

More significantly, the woman, who remains nameless and without status, now serves as a profound example of faith for Jairus, who is indeed the head of a religious community. When he hears that his daughter has died, Jesus encourages Jairus to follow the example of the outcast woman, saying, “Don’t be afraid, just keep having faith.”

While Jesus and Jairus continue to walk to his house, our heroine remains a teacher of faith for Jairus who belongs to the Jewish ruling class, as well as for the disciples. When Jesus arrives at Jairus’ house, he does not listen to anyone’s stories or gossips. He directly enters into Jairus’ daughter’s room. And then he takes her hand and speaks to her, “Talita koum, little girl, get up.” With his command, she gets up and walks around. Was Jairus able to keep faith without witnessing the example of the outcast woman? Although we can only guess, it is clear that she could play a significant role in his faith at the time of his uncertainty.

Can you identify the main ingredient of today’s narrative sandwich? Yes, it is faith. Today’s scripture is about faith. What is surprising is that the one depicted as possessing true faith is an impure, unclear, poor, lowly, nameless female who had no socio-economic status in the time of Jesus. Once again, during Jesus’ time, women were considered inferior to men and were seen as possessions of men. However, Jesus praises this woman for her faith and raises her as an example of faith for Jairus, the head of a synagogue, and his chosen disciples who constantly struggle with a lack of faith.

Like today’s story, we often encounter surprising examples of faith, usually, in unexpected ways. For me, the people I meet in AA and “you” are my examples of faith.

When I feel lost or confused, the faith of AA members in God shows what I lack and guides me back to God. Their simple and yet powerful faith in God, even in the midst of their chaos, uncertainty and struggle, helps me gain the right perspective.

Beloved sisters and brothers in Christ, when I become an individual of little faith, you have also been an example of faith for me. Although I am supposed to be a good example of faith as your pastoral leader, in truth, you have demonstrated and taught me what faith is and how faith works. I am deeply grateful for that. 

Who is your example of faith? When your faith is wavering, who leads you back to trust in God unconditionally? Just like our nameless heroine in today’s scripture, you may need to look for one in an unexpected place and time, often among marginalized people.