Tuesday 1 February 2022

Today is Tuesday the 1st of February, in the fourth week of Ordinary time.

Bifrost Arts sing, ‘ O God will you restore us?’ As you listen, is there anything that needs restoring in you, today?

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 5: 25-34

Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?”’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.

Today we hear of a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much, spent all she had and to only grow worse in her affliction. Culturally, the woman would have been considered unclean among her community.

Can you identify with the suffering of this woman? Perhaps for yourself or someone you know?

Imagine this woman, who decides to seek out Jesus, making journey from her home, towards the Lord and the crowd that surrounds him.

“If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well,” she says.

As you listen to the reading again, can you in your imagination, reach out to touch the hem of Jesus garment with the woman? Let this be part of your prayer.

“Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” What words might Jesus say to you today? Listen out for his voice as you bring your prayer to a close.


Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.