(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 06.30.2024).
- Around 15,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square at noon on Sunday, June 30, to listen to the Pope’s Sunday address and pray the Angelus with him. Below is the English translation of the Pope’s address: *** The Gospel of today’s liturgy tells us about two miracles that seem to be connected to each other.
As Jesus is on His way to the house of Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders whose daughter is gravely ill, a woman suffering from hemorrhages touches His cloak along the way. He stops to heal her. Meanwhile, we are told that Jairus’ daughter has died, but Jesus does not stop.
He arrives at the house, goes into the girl’s room, takes her by the hand, and raises her, bringing her back to life (Mk 5:21-43). Two miracles, one of which is a healing and the other a resurrection. These two healings are told in the same episode.
Both occur through physical contact. Indeed, the woman touches Jesus’ cloak, and Jesus takes the girl by the hand. Why is this physical contact important? It is because these two women are considered impure and cannot, therefore, be physically touched —one because she suffers from blood loss and the other because she is dead.
Yet, Jesus allows Himself to be touched and is not afraid to touch. Jesus allows Himself to be touched and is not afraid to touch. Even before He carries out a physical healing, He challenges the false religious belief that God separates the pure, placing them on one side, from.
