In sanguinis fluxu laborantem

Fifth. Of the same author, on the woman with a flow of blood, from the Gospel according to Luke. To others the purpose of life has distributed various trades, assigning to each what seems necessary and beneficial; but to us God has allotted one trade, that of the Spirit, which is manifold through faith and accomplishes the greatest things, as it is written: "The same Spirit distributing to each individually as it wills." For faith alone remains with those who have it; it does not deceive the one who receives it, it does not reject the one who acquires it, it does not fear thieves, it does not suspect robbers, it needs no seals, it seeks no guards; for it has God as its guardian, who through it readily provides everything to all. Kings desire to have it, but private individuals possess it; rulers seek it, but it runs to the humble and embraces the lowly; it comes to the sick, and taking them by the hand, it leads them, bestowing cures without payment. Therefore, when you see, beloved, Christ descending from a mountain, and again ascending a mountain, crossing a lake, sailing a sea, visiting fields and cities and villages, remember the higher journey along with the lower; do not forget the seat of the Cherubim, do not pass over the divine because of the human, do not consign heaven to oblivion, do not forget that the Word became flesh, as he willed. For the flesh became the Word; as flesh he walks, as Word he withdraws; as flesh he ascends a mountain, as Word he sits above the Cherubim; as flesh he endures my own things for my sake, as Word he tirelessly works the works of the Father, having produced wine from water at Cana.

light opens windows, working new visions with clay and finger. He said to the leper, I wish you to be cleansed, and after the word the affliction was no more. Arise, he says to the paralytic; the word became as feet, and the command gave the sufferer walking more quickly. He reached the house of Jairus, and the mourning was suddenly transformed into joy. Behold, today as well, hemmed in by a crowd, the fringe shines forth, and with the downpour of faith he has flooded the flow. For what has the evangelist just now introduced to us, bringing in manifold profits of faith? There was a certain ruler of the synagogue, a servant of the laws of Moses, and a teacher of the people, whose name was Jairus. To him nature had given one grace, an only daughter, on whom a necessary crowd was busied, as is customary for a loving parent. But, as it seems, he was unaware that he was caring for her not for succession, but for a premature burial. For a grievous sickness came upon her, making her a neighbor of death, and cutting off her father from good hope concerning her. But the affliction did not overcome faith; immediately Jairus goes to the Savior, and entreats him to come to the house. The Lord anticipates the caller with eagerness; for he rose and followed him. But see, faithful one, what righteous violence is innovated by a woman, what wise theft is managed, what harmless seizure is devised by a female; for he must, hastening to the movement, also complete that journey quickly. A woman, it says, suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years, coming up from behind, touched the fringe of his garment.

She said within herself, "If only I touch him, I shall be saved. For this physician," she said, "has come from heaven; he does not prescribe costly materials for drugs, he does not cut with iron, he does not inflict pains; he knows the nature of the female; for he came from a virgin mother as he wished; he is not defiled by investigating hidden afflictions; he himself is the overseer of secret things. I am a woman, and I carry a shameful and hidden affliction; for I have an unceasing flow of blood, and inexhaustible springs of unclean channels. I therefore need a spring, which is he himself, that he may secretly cleanse my unseemly discharge; for the law does not admit such a disease. The crowd thrusts me, wretched, away as polluted; but the present physician, being the creator of nature, who fashioned from a rib, would not refuse to deliver from corruption; for he commands by word alone, and the affliction does not remain; he stirs with the Spirit, and demands the dead from Hades; from a few loaves he fills thousands, he washes with tears and wells up forgiveness. But no one dares this except unwavering faith alone; taking this as a guide for the soul, I approach secretly, and in silence I steal healing by touch; if I escape notice, the whole is gain, for I know that I shall be saved; but if I am not hidden and am called into the midst, I would not be accused for having dared on account of healing, nor would I be called to account for what faith has stolen; for all its gifts are irrevocable as being of God; for he who said to the sea, 'Be still, be silent,' will also open my hidden spring.

Come then, faith, steer what is to come, and swiftly cut through the wave of the crowds, so that I may moor the rotten vessel of my body in that calm harbor. For a drop of his help can effortlessly drown the abyss of blood within me. Having deliberated thus well, she dares the undared, and fears neither time, nor considers poverty, nor counts the multitude. Leaping over all these through faith—or rather with faith—and secretly touching the Lord's tunic, she opportunely stole the profit of healing, believing that union with him was deliverance from the affliction. And indeed it was deliverance, for she was immediately healed of the scourge. For twelve years she had been boxing with the disease day by day and year by year, stealing away her life, always being slaughtered yet not dying. The first year, she began to perceive certain pains and torments. The second year came, and it disturbed the hidden parts of this obscure city. The third year arrived, and she was seized by the swelling of nerves and veins. The fourth year came, and a fountain of blood issued from her. The fifth year, physicians rushed from all sides, baring limbs which it is not lawful for men to see. The sixth year was completed, and the evil intensified further. The seventh year, with so much wealth being emptied, the destruction of blood remained inexhaustible. The eighth year arrived, and those treating her confessed defeat. The ninth year came, and they left her completely despaired and departed.

The tenth year was approaching, and the woman was utterly destitute of property and health; the eleventh year, and no helper stood by her in her pain; the twelfth year was being counted, and the physician of souls was present in the final hour, healing diseases by touch, word, and faith. Meeting him and entrusting herself to the future, she obtained what she wished; but she trembled, knowing that she had not escaped notice. For what does the Savior say? Who touched me? For I perceived a power that went out from me. He did not say, Who touched me? (feminine), lest somehow those present occupy themselves with a dubious inquiry about a woman; but he said, Who touched me? (masculine), leaving the utterance suspended, so that each hearer might suppose the attempt to be that of a man. Who touched me? For I perceived a power that went out from me. What do you say, O Master? Have you come to have your possessions plundered? Have you set forth the kingdom for plunder, wishing it for the faithful? And how do you ask what you know, and seek what you are not ignorant of? If you were unwillingly robbed of the power that went out, you ought to have restrained it; but if you were willingly plundered, why are you vexed at giving what faith compels to receive from you?

You gave without being asked, and after giving you bring charges? You healed invisibly, and after the cure you convene a court? Yes, he says, I know the one who robbed me, I am not ignorant of the one who plundered me commendably, and I want her to come forward so that she may become a herald of the grace she obtained. For having been so gladly plundered by her, I have chosen to confirm her gift before all. Take courage, daughter, your faith has saved you. Keep, he says, what you have cleverly stolen; hold fast, woman, what you have secretly snatched; acquire a legitimate possession, which faith has provided you. For instead of a slave you have been called a daughter, instead of defiled you have been named anointed today. Know that you are healthy from your scourge. Do you see, beloved, how much faith can do, how in a single moment it accomplished wonders, encouraging the trembling woman in silence, having prevailed upon the physician? Thus the Church from the Gentiles, emulating the woman with the issue of blood and approaching the Master in silence with faith, unstopped the foul source of legal bloods, and having been called a daughter, she is mother of many, possessing as witness the one who long ago cried out: that the children of the barren woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband—I mean the synagogue, whose husband is the law, the ruler of the synagogue, today summoning the Master to the raising of his dead child. But since the hour presses, I promise the debt of the miracle concerning her, setting before you as guarantor the wealth-giving Lord, to whom glory is due unto the ages of ages. Amen.