Dear Friend 

Reflection by Dianne M. Traflet, J.D., S.T.D.

I am so grateful to Carlos Vargas Hernandez, the seminarian who helped us to begin Lent in a meditative way on the above painting. Since receiving Carlos’ meditation, I often find myself thinking about the woman from the Gospel who suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years and then had the bold faith to reach out to Jesus.

In Mark’s Gospel, we read, “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’” (Mk. 5:26-28).

The Gospel paints a portrait of exhaustion—being “totally spent.”  She was spent physically, I imagine terribly anemic, and she was spent financially, having given all her money to doctors, but to no avail.  She must have been spent emotionally as well—the type that speaks “I give up.”  After all, she had been to doctor after doctor, and not only was she not healed, her condition grew worse!

Time for the Divine Doctor! She doesn’t ask for a consultation.  She is content to just reach out to Jesus. She doesn’t even try to see Jesus face-to-face. She comes up from behind! The painting helps us to imagine her crawling to reach just the tassel of Jesus’ cloak.  Such humility—such faith.

Do I have such humility? Might God be asking me this Lent to simply be in his presence? No words have to be said. Just be.  Might God be asking me, even when tired,  to have the bold faith just to kneel down and pray?  Might God be asking me to find him in the crowds and chaos—and even if I can’t seem to see His face, at least see the back of His cloak? 

I wonder if I am so intent on seeking the face of Christ—that I neglect to see and rejoice at glimpses of Him in my daily life?  Am I so focused on finishing the race that I don’t bother to pause and kneel before Him?

Prayer: 

Lord, please, help me to have the bold faith of the woman in this Gospel passage.  When I am tired, may I have the determination that believes “If I but touch” your cloak.  Today, Lord, I will reach out to you.  Thank you for looking back at me with your healing love. Amen.

Know someone who may be interested in receiving our daily reflection emails? Invite them to sign up by visiting our subscription page.

Dianne M. Traflet, J.D., S.T.D., Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Administration and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology, earned a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, an M.A. in Catholic Theology and Pastoral Ministry from The Institute of Advanced Studies of Catholic Doctrine, St. John's University, and an S.T.L. and an S.T.D. from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (The Angelicum), Rome. Dr. Traflet is a key leader in the Center for Diaconal Formation, and she gives numerous lectures, retreats, and days of recollection, including some specific to wives of deacons and deacon candidates. She is the author of Edith Stein: A Spiritual Portrait (Pauline Media, 2008).