“…and pleaded earnestly with him”

Many times we pray so that Jesus will grant what we ask. It is true as the catechism states that “to those who turn to him [Jesus] in faith, he grants what they ask.” Is this however the only reason to pray? Our prayer has to go deeper that curiosity for a miracle or physically need, it must unite us to Christ and bring about both physically and spiritual healing, as well as much need conversion. Both Jarius and the hemorrhaging woman, not only received what they asked for, but answered the invitation of Christ.

What was the invitation Christ extended to Jarius and the woman? To the woman Christ said, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” Jesus calls the woman daughter and invites her to a life of peace, peace which can only be found in faith. Christ said to Jarius, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” Jesus invites Jaruis to a life of Faith, which drives away any fear.
 
“The signs worked by Jesus attest that the Father has sent him. They invite belief in him. To those who turn to him in faith, he grants what they ask. So miracles strengthen faith in the One who does his Father’s works; they bear witness that he is the Son of God. But his miracles can also be occasions for “offense”; they are not intended to satisfy people’s curiosity or desire for magic. Despite his evident miracles some people reject Jesus; he is even accused of acting by the power of demons.” [1] Regardless of the healing or feeling that comes from the signs or miracles of Christ, the primary reason for the sign or miracle is to invite us to belief in him. If the sign or miracle only effects the physically then it is temporal and does not last. For the woman, suffering from hemorrhaging, as soon as her flow of blood was stopped, the flow of her faith began. The works of Christ are an invitation to us to begin the flow of faith.
 
What is the difference between the pleading of Jarius and that of the hemorrhaging woman?The pleading of Jarius is spoken in words, while the prayer of the woman is in silence, she reaches out. “Prayer to Jesus is answered by him already during his ministry, through signs that anticipate the power of his death and Resurrection: Jesus hears the prayer of faith, expressed in words (the leper, Jairus, the Canaanite woman, the good thief) or in silence (the bearers of the paralytic, the woman with a hemorrhage who touches his clothes, the tears and ointment of the sinful woman). The urgent request of the blind men, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David” or “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ has been renewed in the traditional prayer to Jesus known as the Jesus Prayer: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ Healing infirmities or forgiving sins, Jesus always responds to a prayer offered in faith: ‘Your faith has made you well; go in peace.’”  [2]

How does Jarius’ give us an example of Faith? Saint Mark’s Gospel says, “Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded…” We can follow Jarius’ example:
 
1. We draw close to Christ, we come forward.
2. We see Him.
3. We fall at His feet (humility)
4. We plead.
 
How are these four steps, steps of Faith? To draw close to something or someone means we must trust and leave fear behind. We cannot see something or someone, unless we are willing to come forward. The act of coming forward means that we will be able to see. We cannot see Christ, unless we are willing to get rid of our fears and lack of trust. When we see Christ, what do we see? Are we afraid of what we might see? When we see Christ, what is our response? There is only one response, if we are truly seeing Christ, and that is to “fall at His feet”. This gesture is a gesture of humility. In front of Our Lord we are humbled and full of awe. While at His feet, although humbled and full of awe, we are also comfortable and with peace and joy can “plead” with Him. We can freely speak to Him and ask whatever is on our heart, mind, and soul.

How does the hemorrhaging woman give us an example of Faith? Saint Mark’s Gospel says, “approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.” We can follow the woman’s example:
 
1. We draw close to Christ, we approach
2. We have fear and trembling (awe)
3. We fall down before Jesus (humility)
4. We tell Jesus the whole truth
 
How are these four steps, steps of Faith? These steps are very similar to the steps of Jarius in that both approach and both fall down. We learn a little more from the woman in that she appears more emotional. She is full of fear and trembling. The woman witnesses for us the Gift of the Holy Spirit: Fear of the Lord. “The gift of fear comprises three principal elements: a vivid sense of God’s greatness, a lively sorrow for the least faults committed, and a vigilant care in avoiding occasions of sin. It is expressed in the prayer of the Psalmist, ‘My whole being trembles before you, your ruling fill me with fear’ (Psalm 119:120).” [3] The woman also gives us more insight into pray. For the woman it is not just pleading but telling Jesus the whole truth. In our pleading, do we tell Jesus the whole truth, do we let Him know everything that is on our minds? In our prayers do we let Him tell us the whole truth, or do we cut our prayer short before He can, that is Truth, can give us the full truth? There are many people that are wounded as this woman was, who go for many years wounded and away from the Sacraments. This woman is an example of those coming back to the sacraments. When we come back to the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation, do we “tell Jesus the whole truth” about where we have been and why we have been there and how like the woman we were “not helped but only grew worse.”

[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church; 548
[2] Catechism of the Catholic Church; 2616 -
[3] Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.; Modern Catholic Dictionary