المنسقية العامة للمؤسسات اللبنانية الكندية

تأملات إيمانية في الأحد الثالث من الصوم، أحد النازفة

انكليزي وعربي

جمع وكتابة/الياس بجاني

أحد شفاء النازفة ونزفنا الإيماني

بقلم/الياس بجاني

"فالتفت يسوع فرآها وقال: ثقي يا ابنتي، إيمانك شفاك، فشفـيت المرأة من تلك الساعة". (متى9/22)

من منا لا ينزف بقيمه وعلاقاته وممارساته وإيمانه وأسس ومفاهيم الرجاء في هذا الزمن "المحل" الذي ابتعدنا فيه عن تعاليم الإنجيل المقدس. نعم ابتعدنا وانحرفنا وتخلينا عن القيم والمبادئ وانغمسنا في مجتمع استهلاكي أغرقنا دون رحمة وحدود وقيود في أفخاخ الأنانية الشيطانية وأصابنا بعاهة "الأنا" القاتلة التي أمست قبلتنا ومرادنا.

مؤسف أننا على مقاس نزوات هذه "الأنا" الخادعة والمضللة نفصل حياتنا، وعلى هداها ننسق تصرفاتنا، وطبقاً لرغباتها نجير أقوالنا وأنشطتنا وعلاقتنا مع الآخرين.

الأنانية القاتلة فككت أواصل العائلة التي هي حجر أساس الأوطان والمجتمعات، وغيبت عن قلوبنا وضمائرنا المحبة فحل الظلام في داخلنا ووقعنا في التجارب وانحرفنا عن طريق الخلاص القويم الذي رسمه لنا السيد المسيح بدمه من على الصليب. خسرنا كل شيء لأننا خسرنا أنفسنا وتعامينا عن قول المعلم: "ماذا ينفع الإنسان لو ربح العالم كله وخسر نفسه". نعم وقعنا في فخاخ إبليس وفي تجاربه بسبب قلة إيماننا وبنتيجة انجرارنا الأعمى وراء مقتنيات الدنيا من مال ونفوذ وسلطة.

لهذا نحن ننزف دون انقطاع في كل مرة نرتكب فيها الخطيئة التي هي الموت.

ننزف عندما لا نقاوم الشر ونغرق أكثر وأكثر في أطماعنا والشهوات.

ننزف عندما لا نحب ونغفر ونسامح ونعمل الخير ونصلي ونبشر بكلمة الرب وتعاليمه.

ننزف في عقولنا ووجداننا وقلوبنا عندما نبتعد عن الإيمان ونقع في التجارب.

ننزف عندما نرضى أن تستهوينا وتغرينا ملذات هذا العالم الترابي الفاني.

ننزف عندما لا نخاف الله في علاقاتنا مع بعضنا البعض ومع أولادنا وعائلاتنا.

ننزف عندما نبتعد هن جوهر المحبة التي هي الله والتي بأبهى صورها تتجسد ببذل الذات في سبيل الآخرين.

ننزف عندما نسمح لنزوات الطمع والحسد والجشع أن تتحكم في حياتنا.

ننزف عندما نعبد ممتلكات هذه الدنيا الفانية ونبتعد عن عبادة الله ونكفر بتعاليمه.

ننزف عندما لا نحافظ على دم الشهداء ولا نحترم تضحيات الذين قدموا أنفسهم قرابين على مذبح وطننا وشهدوا للحق ولم يتجابنوا.

ننزف لأننا نوالي قادة وسياسيين وأحزاب يتاجرون بمصيرنا ولقمة عيشنا ووطننا.

نزف لأننا قبلنا وضعية العبيد والأغنام ورضينا العيش في الزرائب.

وهل نسأل بعد لماذا تحول وطننا الغالي لبنان إلى ساحة حروب للآخرين وفقدنا استقلالنا وسيادتنا؟

لا خلاص لنا ولا وقف لنزفنا إلا بالتوبة والصلاة والصوم وعمل الكفارات. إن الرب غفور ومسامح ومحب يريد مساعدتنا ووقف نزفنا إن قصدناه وطلبنا منه الشفاء بتقوى وإيمان ورجاء كما فعلت المرأة النازفة.

الرب افتدانا بابنه الوحيد واعتقنا من نير عبودية الخطيئة الأصلية ودلنا على طريق الخلاص، لكنه ترك لنا إما خيار السير عليه لإدراك البيت التي شيده لنا في ملكوته حيث لا وجع ولا عذاب ولا بغض، أو الضياع والإبتعاد عن هذا الطريق وسلوك مسالك الشر حيث يكون المنتهي في الجحيم حيث البكاء وصريف الأسنان والنار التي تنطفئ.

في هذا الأحد دعونا نأخذ العِّبر من إيمان المرأة النازفة فنقوي إيماننا وثقتنا بالله وبقدرته وبمحبته وبنعمة المغفرة التي يعطيها لمن يسعى منا إليها صادقاً وتائباً "هو الذي يغفر جميع آثامك ويشفي جميع أمراضك" (مزمور 103: 3)

لنصلي من أجل خلاص وطننا الغالي لبنان، ومن أجل وقف النزف الذي أصاب مؤسساته، ومن اجل قادته إلى طرق الإيمان والعدل والشهادة للحق.

*الكاتب معلق سياسي وناشط لبناني اغترابي

*عنوان الكاتب الألكتروني

phoenicia@hotmail.com

تأملات للياس بجاني في أحد النازفة
بالصوت/يا الله اشفينا كما شفيت النازفة/الياس بجاني

قراءات الكنسية المارونية في يوم أحد النازفة/الأحد الثالث من الصوم الكبير

إنجيل القدّيس لوقا 56/08-40/النازفة

وَلَمَّا عَادَ يَسُوع، ٱسْتَقْبَلَهُ الجَمْع، لأَنَّهُم جَميعَهُم كَانُوا يَنْتَظِرُونَهُ. وَإِذَا بِرَجُلٍ ٱسْمُهُ يَائِيرُس، وكَانَ رَئِيسَ المَجْمَع، جَاءَ فٱرْتَمَى عَلَى قَدَمَي يَسُوع، وَأَخَذَ يَتَوَسَّلُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بَيْتَهُ، لأَنَّ لَهُ ٱبْنَةً وَحِيدَة، عُمْرُها نُحْوُ ٱثْنَتَي عَشْرَةَ سَنَة، قَدْ أَشْرَفَتْ عَلَى المَوْت. وفِيمَا هُوَ ذَاهِب، كانَ الجُمُوعُ يَزْحَمُونَهُ. وَكانَتِ ٱمْرَأَةٌ مُصَابَةٌ بِنَزْفِ دَمٍ مُنْذُ ٱثْنَتَي عَشْرَةَ سَنَة، وَلَمْ يَقْدِرْ أَحَدٌ أَنْ يَشْفِيَهَا. دَنَتْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ يَسُوع، وَلَمَسَتْ طَرَفَ رِدَائِهِ، وَفَجأَةً وَقَفَ نَزْفُ دَمِهَا. فَقَالَ يَسُوع: «مَنْ لَمَسَنِي؟». وَأَنْكَرَ الجَمِيع. فَقَالَ بُطْرُسُ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ: «يا مُعَلِّم، إِنَّ الجُمُوعَ يَزْحَمُونَكَ وَيُضَايِقُونَكَ!». فَقَالَ يَسُوع: «إِنَّ واحِدًا قَدْ لَمَسَنِي! فَإنِّي عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ قُوَّةً قَدْ خَرَجَتْ مِنِّي!». وَرَأَتِ ٱلمَرْأَةُ أَنَّ أَمْرَها لَمْ يَخْفَ عَلَيه، فَدَنَتْ مُرْتَعِدَةً وٱرْتَمَتْ عَلَى قَدَمَيه، وَأَعْلَنَتْ أَمَامَ الشَّعْبِ كُلِّهِ لِماذَا لَمَسَتْهُ، وَكَيْفَ شُفِيَتْ لِلْحَال. فَقَالَ لَهَا يَسُوع: «يا ٱبْنَتِي، إِيْمَانُكِ خَلَّصَكِ! إِذْهَبِي بِسَلام!». وَفيمَا هُوَ يَتَكَلَّم، وَصَلَ وَاحِدٌ مِنْ دَارِ رَئِيسِ المَجْمَعِ يَقُول: «مَاتَتِ ٱبْنَتُكَ! فَلا تُزْعِجِ المُعَلِّم!». وَسَمِعَ يَسوعُ فَأَجَابَهُ: «لا تَخَفْ! يَكْفي أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ فَتَحْيا ٱبْنَتُكَ!». وَلَمَّا وَصَلَ إِلى البَيْت، لَمْ يَدَعْ أَحَدًا يَدْخُلُ مَعَهُ سِوَى بُطْرُسَ وَيُوحَنَّا وَيَعْقُوبَ وَأَبي الصَّبِيَّةِ وأُمِّهَا. وكَانَ الجَمِيعُ يَبْكُونَ عَلَيْها وَيَقْرَعُونَ صُدُورَهُم. فَقَال: «لا تَبْكُوا! إِنَّهَا لَمْ تَمُتْ. لكِنَّهَا نَائِمَة!». فَأَخَذُوا يَضْحَكُونَ مِنْهُ لِعِلْمِهِم بِأَنَّها مَاتَتْ. أَمَّا هُوَ فَأَمْسَكَ بِيَدِها وَنَادَى قاَئِلاً: «أَيَّتُهَا الصَّبِيَّة، قُومِي!». فَعَادَتْ رُوحُهَا إِلَيْهَا، وَفَجْأَةً نَهَضَتْ. ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِأَنْ يُطْعِمُوهَا.فَدَهِشَ أَبَوَاها، وَأَوْصَاهُمَا يَسُوعُ أَلاَّ يُخْبِرَا أَحَدًا بِمَا حَدَث.

الأحد الثالث من الصوم الكبير : أحد شفاء النازفة

رسالة القدّيس بولس الثانية إلى أهل قورنتس .11-4:7

يا إخوَتِي، إِنَّ لي عَلَيْكُم دَالَّةً كَبِيرَة، ولي بِكُم فَخْرًا عَظِيمًا. وَلَقَدِ ٱمْتَلأَتُ تَعْزِيَة، وأَنَا أَفِيضُ فَرَحًا في ضِيقِنَا كُلِّهِ. فإِنَّنَا لَمَّا وَصَلْنَا إِلى مَقْدَونِيَة، لَمْ يَكُنْ لِجَسَدِنَا شَيءٌ مِنَ الرَّاحَة، بَلْ كُنَّا مُتَضَايِقِينَ في كُلِّ شَيء، صِرَاعٌ مِنَ الـخَارِج، وخَوفٌ مِنَ الدَّاخِل! لـكِنَّ ٱللهَ الَّذي يُعَزِّي الـمُتَوَاضِعِينَ عَزَّانا بِمَجِيءِ طِيْطُس، لا بِمَجِيئِهِ فَحَسْب، بَلْ أَيْضًا بِالتَّعْزِيَةِ الَّتي تَعَزَّاهَا بِكُم. وقَدْ أَخْبَرَنَا بِٱشْتِيَاقِكُم إِلَيْنَا، وحُزْنِكُم، وغَيْرَتِكُم عَلَيَّ، حَتَّى إِنِّي ٱزْدَدْتُ فَرَحًا.

وإِذَا كُنْتُ قَدْ أَحْزَنْتُكُم بِرِسَالتِي فَلَسْتُ نَادِمًا عَلى ذـلِكَ، معَ أَنَّنِي كُنْتُ قَدْ نَدِمْتُ، لأَنِّي أَرَى أَنَّ تِلْكَ الرِّسَالَة، ولَوْ أَحْزَنَتْكُم إِلى حِين، قَدْ سَبَّبَتْ لي فَرَحًا كَثِيرًا، لا لأَنَّكُم حَزِنْتُم، بَلْ لأَنَّ حُزْنَكُم أَدَّى بِكُم إِلى التَّوبَة. فَقَدْ حَزِنْتُم حُزْنًا مُرْضِيًا لله، كَيْ لا تَخْسَرُوا بِسَبَبِنَا في أَيِّ شَيء؛ لأَنَّ الـحُزْنَ الـمُرْضِيَ للهِ يَصْنَعُ تَوْبَةً لِلخَلاصِ لا نَدَمَ عَلَيْهَا، أَمَّا حُزْنُ العَالَمِ فَيَصْنَعُ مَوْتًا. فَٱنْظُرُوا حُزْنَكُم هـذَا ٱلـمُرْضِيَ للهِ كَم أَنْشَأَ فِيكُم مِنَ ٱلٱجْتِهَاد، بَلْ مِنَ ٱلٱعْتِذَار، بَلْ مِنَ ٱلٱسْتِنْكَار، بَلْ مِنَ ٱلـخَوْف، بَلْ مِنَ ٱلشَّوْق، بَلْ مِنَ ٱلغَيْرَة، بَلْ مِنَ ٱلإِصْرَارِ عَلى العِقَاب! وقَدْ أَظْهَرْتُم أَنْفُسَكُم في كُلِّ ذـلِكَ أَنَّكُم أَبْرِيَاءُ مِنَ هـذَا الأَمْر.

الأحد الثالث من الصوم الكبير : أحد شفاء النازفة

تذكّرنا الكنيسة، في هذا الأحد، بشفاء المرأة المنزوفة المزمنة، وتعلّمنا أن الإيمان هو المدخل إلى الحياة المسيحيّة الحقّة: لقد آمنت تلك المصابة بنزف دم، طوال اثنتي عشرة سنة، فشُفيت من لمسها لرداء يسوع، لأنّ قوّة عجيبة منه أعادت إليها العزم والحياة، فصارت مثال المؤمن الواثق من الخلاص.

1 - الرسالة (2 قور 7/4-11): تعبّر عن فرح القدّيس بولس، وتعزيته الكبرى برجوع طيطس إليه، حاملاً معه أخبارًا سارّة من مؤمني قورنتس، وقد تابوا على أثر قراءتهم للرسالة القاسية التي سبق بولس فوجّهها إليهم، وفتحوا قلوبهم للنعمة، وعادوا إلى سابق عهدهم في علاقتهم الطبيعيّة ببولس، بعد أن كانوا منغلقين في عتمة كبريائهم وأنانيّتهم ورافضين لبولس وللإنجيل معًا. والتطبيق واضح على واقع تلك المنزوفة المنغلقة على ذاتها في بيتها، المنبوذة والمعتبرة نجسة وخاطئة، لا يحقّ لها مخالطة جماعة شعب الله! فكم كان فرحها عظيمًا عندما شفاها الربّ وأعلى إيمانها ومدحها أمام الجموع كلّها!

رسالة الإثنين (1 طيم 4/9-16) توصية للتلميذ طيموتاوس الخادم المسؤول في بيعة الله، لكي يجاهد ويتعب، ليكون مثالاً وخلاصًا لجميع المؤمنين، على مثال بولس معلّمه، ومثال الربّ يسوع. ورسالة الثلاثاء (2 قور 8/1-9) تركّز على موضوع التبرّعات من كنائس العالم اليونانيّ للكنيسة الأمّ في أورشليم، وهو موضوع عمليّ وحاليّ وخصوصًا في زمن الصوم، غايته مادّيّة، ولكنّه ذو طابع روحيّ وكنسيّ كبير: فهو نعمة وخدمة ومحبّة ومساواة. وفي رسالة الأربعاء (غل 2/1-7) يرى بولس أنّ الشركة بين الكنائس الهلّينيّة التي أسّسها والكنيسة الأمّ في أورشليم كانت أمرًا ضروريًّا، مع التشديد على مبدأ الحرّيّة المسيحيّة في موضوع الختانة. ورسالة الخميس (غل 1/1-10) تشدّد على تعجّب بولس من أهل غلاطية، وتحذيره وتهديده لهم، لأنّهم يحرّفون إنجيل المسيح الحقّ الواحد، الذي صار بولس خادمًا له وعبدًا ليسوع المسيح. ورسالة الجمعة (روم 3/1-7) تركّز على المشكلة الشائكة لبولس وللكنيسة الأولى، ولا تزال حتّى يومنا، وهي إظهار صدق الله وأمانته في مواعيده لشعبه القديم، برغم خيانة هذا الشعب لوعود الله، ورفضه للمسيح، وانحرافه عن خطّ الخلاص. ورسالة السبت (2 طيم3/1-9) تحذّر المؤمنين والمسؤولين من المعلّمين الكذّابين ونشاطهم الإلحاديّ، أمثال ينّيس ويمبريس، رمز الكفر والإلحاد. ولكن للتقوى قوّة محوّلة لا يختبرها إلاّ المؤمن الحقّ في مشاركته للمسيح.

2 - الإنجيل (لو 8/40-56): ربّما كان اختيار شفاء المنزوفة، هذا الأحد، بعد شفاء الأبرص، الأحد الماضي، مسنودًا إلى أنّ البرص في اللحم، والنزف في الدم، يُعتبران كلاهما في نظر الشريعة، مرضًا جسديًّا وروحيًّا معًا، ومُعديًا يحرّم صاحبهما من مخالطة الناس. وبهذا يكون كلاهما رمزًا للبشريّة الخاطئة والصائرة إلى الموت والهلاك. والجمع بين الشفاءين يُظهر أنّ ليسوع وحده السلطان المطلق على شفاء الإنسان، من لحم ودم، أيًّا كان مرضه! الشفاء يتمّ بلمسة من يسوع للأبرص، وبلمسة من المنزوفة لطرف رداء يسوع: وهذا إشارة إلى الأسرار المقدسة التي لها طابع ملموس، ولها أيضًا قوّة روحيّة خفيّة مطهِّرة ومقدِّسة.

إنجيل الإثنين (يو 8/21-27) يشدّد على أنّ الخلاص من الخطيئة والهلاك لا يتمّ إلاّ بالإيمان بيسوع المسيح، الذي له وحده السلطان على الخطيئة والموت. وما الخلاص سوى العبور مع يسوع إلى جوار الآب. وفي إنجيل الثلاثاء (متى 23/1-12) يُقرّ يسوع بما للفرّيسيّين والكتبة من سلطة دينيّة، ولكنّه يرى تفاسيرهم للتوراة، ضيّقة، لا تُطاق ولا يُعمل بها، ويحذّر تلاميذه من طلب السلطة مثلهم، عجبًا بالنفس وكبرياء، لأنّ السلطة في نظر يسوع هي خدمة وبذل للذات. وفي إنجيل الأربعاء (متى 17/10-13) يربط يسوع مصيره بسابقه يوحنّا، ويربط دور يوحنّا بإيليّا النبيّ، الذي كان علماء التوراة يعلّمون الشعب أنّه عائد ليسبق المسيح ويُعدّ الشعب للإيمان به. وإنجيل الخميس (لو 17/20-37) يركّز على السؤال الذي كان يشغل عقول اليهود، ولا يزال، عن مجيء المسيح، وعلى جواب يسوع الصريح أن ملكوت الله بين الناس قد بدأ ببشارة يسوع وآياته، وحضوره حقيقة راهنة وقوّة فاعلة بين البشر. وإنجيل الجمعة (لو 12/16-21) يذكّر بمثل الغنيّ الأحمق، الذي كان همّه أن يخزن غلاّته في الأهراء، بدل أن يوزّعها على الفقراء، فيدّخر له كنزًا في السماء. وإنجيل السبت (متى 12/1-14) يركّز على جدالات في شريعة السبت، بين يسوع والفرّيسيين، فيها يظهر يسوع سلطانه على الشريعة عامّة، وعلى شريعة السبت، كما يفهمها الفرّيسيّون خاصّة.

من كتاب الإنجيل الطقسيّ (بكركي-2005)

The Bleeding Women: Faith & Hope
By: Elias Bejjani*
(John 6:68): “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life"
Whenever we are in real trouble encountering devastating and harsh conditions either physically or materially, we unconsciously react with sadness, anger, confusion, helplessness and feel abandoned. When in a big mess, we expect our family members and friends to automatically run to our rescue. But in the majority of such difficult situations, we discover with great disappointment that in reality our heartfelt expectations do not unfold as we wish.
What is frustrating and shocking is that very few of our family members and friends would stand beside us during hardships and endeavour to genuinely offer the needed help. Those who have already walked through these rocky life paths and adversities definitely know very well the bitter taste of disappointment. They know exactly the real meaning of the well-know saying, "a friend in need is a friend indeed".
Sadly our weak human nature is driven by inborn instincts that often make us side with the rich, powerful, healthy and strong over the poor, weak, needy and sick. Those who have no faith in Almighty God find it very difficult to cope in a real mess.
Meanwhile, those whose faith is solid stand up with courage, refuse to give up hope, and call on their Almighty Father for help through praying and worshiping. They know for sure that our Great Father is loving and passionate. He will not abandon any one of us when calling on Him for mercy and help because He said and promised so. Matthew 11/28-30: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
One might ask, 'Why should I pray?' And, 'Do I have to ask God for help, can't He help me without praying to Him?'  The answer is 'no'. We need to pray and when we do so with faith and confidence God listens and responds (Mark 11/:24): "Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them"
Yes, we have to make the effort and be adamant and persistent. We have to ask and knock in a bid to show our mere submission to Him and He with no doubt shall provide. (Matthew 7/7 & 8): "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened".
On this second Sunday of Lent in our Catholic Church's Eastern Maronite rite, we cite and recall the miraculous cure of the bleeding woman in Matthew 9/20-22, Mark 5/25-34, and Luke 8/43-48. As we learn from the Holy Gospel, the bleeding woman's great faith made her believe without a shred of doubt that her twelve years of chronic bleeding would stop immediately if she touched Jesus' garment. She knew deeply in her heart that Jesus would cure her even without asking him. Her faith cured the bleeding and made her well. Her prayers were heard and responded to.
Luke 8/:43-49: "A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians, and could not be healed by any, came behind him (Jesus), and touched the fringe of his cloak, and immediately the flow of her blood stopped. Jesus said, “Who touched me?”  When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 8:46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me.” When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. He said to her, “Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
The woman's faith cured her chronic bleeding and put her back in the society as a normal and acceptable citizen. During that era women with uterus bleeding were looked upon as sinners, defiled and totally banned from entering synagogues for praying. Meanwhile, because of her sickness she was physically unable to be a mother and bear children. Sadly she was socially and religiously abandoned, humiliated and alienated. But her faith and hope empowered her with the needed strength and perseverance and enabled her to cope successfully against all odds.
Hallelujah! Faith can do miracles. Yes indeed. (Luke17/5 & 6): " The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you". How badly do we today need to have a faith like that of this women?
Let us all on this second Lent Sunday pray with solid faith.
Let us ask Almighty God who cured the bleeding women, and who was crucified on the cross to absolve our original sin, that He would endow His Holy graces of peace, tranquility, and love all over the world. And that He would strengthen the faith, patience and hope of all those persecuted, imprisoned, and deprived for courageously witnessing the Gospel's message and truth.

Church Readings on the Third Sunday of Great Lent: Sunday of Hemorrhaging Woman
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 8,40-56.
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her haemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.’ When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.’ When Jesus heard this, he replied, ‘Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.’ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, ‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Second Letter to the Corinthians 7,4-11.
I often boast about you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with consolation; I am overjoyed in all our affliction. For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way disputes without and fears within. But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly). Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter.

Additional Related Pieces for this Sunday

Woman with Issue of Blood
The Woman Who Was Healed by a Touch
Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48
This sick, anonymous woman must have been emaciated after a hemorrhage lasting for twelve years, which rendered her legally unclean. She could not throw herself, therefore, at the feet of Christ and state her complaint. Her modesty, humility, uncleanness and pressure of the crowd made close contact well-nigh impossible, hence her eagerness to touch in some unnoticed way the hem of His garment. Who was this woman of faith? The primitive church, feeling she was entitled to a name, called her Veronica, who lived in Caesarea Philippi, but in the gospels she is enrolled in the list of anonymous female divines. There are several aspects of her cure worthy of note—
She Was Cured After Many Failures
What this poor woman really endured at the hands of the medical men of the time is left to the imagination. What a touch of reality is given to her story by the knowledge that she had suffered many things of many physicians and was no better but rather “grew worse.” Where men failed, Christ succeeded. Down the ages men and women which no agency could reclaim have been restored by Christ. What is not possible with men is blessedly possible with God. Her disease was of long standing yet she was swiftly healed, for as soon as she touched the hem of His garment, “straight-way the fountain of her blood was dried up.” If a person suffers for a while from a complaint and seeks no medical advice, but in the end goes to the doctor, he invariably says, “You should have come to me sooner.” But it is the glory of Christ that He can heal those who come late to Him.
She Was Cured With the Utmost Rapidity
Mark’s favorite word, “straightway,” which he uses 27 times in his gospel, is in most cases related to Christ’s rapid cures. How swift He was in His relief for the suffering! As at creation, so in His miracles of healing, “He spake and it was done.” Spiritual parallels of His instantaneous power can be seen in the conversions of Matthew, Paul and the dying thief. Many of us, too, can testify to the fact that He can transform character in a moment of time. The term Jesus used in addressing the nameless sufferer suggests that she was still young, though wasted and faded by her malady which made her look older than she was. But the nature of her disease and the age of the one afflicted made no difference to Him in healing the sick and saving the lost. As Jesus passed by the withered fingers of the woman brushed the border of Christ’s sacred dress, and all at once her thin body felt the painless health of her girlhood return. A strength she had not known for 12 years renewed her being, and she knew that Christ had made her whole.
She Acknowledged Receipt of the Benefit Bestowed
As soon as the woman touched Christ’s garment, He felt that “virtue had gone out of Him,” and turned about and said, “Who touched me?” The disciples mildly rebuked Jesus by saying, “Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” Perhaps her touch had been unnoticed by the eyes of those around, and she must have been one of many who touched the Master that day as he proceeded on His errand of love, but a touch of faith could not be hidden from Him. Quickly the Physician saw the patient, and trembling with self-consciousness but too glad and grateful to falter, she confessed to her touch of His robe. “She told him all the truth.” She experienced that open confession is good for the soul. What a glow of gratitude her countenance must have had, as she publicly stated that her burden for twelve years had rolled away!
She Was Commended for Her Faith
The crowd who listened to her confession also heard the Saviour’s benediction, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” As a true daughter of Abraham (Luke 13:16), her faith is crowned by the Master. Hers was not faith without a touch, or a touch without faith. Believing, she appropriated and was healed. “Daughter,” was an endearing term for Jesus to use. Some tender insight of His own must have prompted Him to use it. As Theron Brown puts it so beautifully—
The restored sufferer would never forget the friendly benignity that assailed her with one indulgent epithet or the sympathy in that endearing term by which the Messiah of Israel recognized her as His own.... She cherished her debt to the Man of Galilee.
She Has a Place in Legend
It is said that this woman who was healed of her plague walked with Jesus as He went to His cross, and that seeing His blood and sweat, she drew out her handkerchief and wiped His brow. Later on, as she reverently caressed the piece of linen, she found the image of the blood-stained face of Jesus imprinted on it. Face cloths for the Roman catacombs alleged to hold the impress of His features were called Veronicas. About a.d. 320, Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea and a dependable historian records that when he visited Caesarea Philippi, he heard that the woman healed of her issue of blood out of gratitude for her cure had erected two brazen figures at the gate of her house, one representing a woman bending on her knee in supplication—the other, fashioned in the likeness of Jesus, holding out His hand to help her. The figure had a double cloak of brass. Eusebius adds this explicit statement as to these figures, “They were in existence even in our day and we saw them with our own eyes when we stayed in the city.” The well-known Sankey gospel hymn recalls and applies the story of the nameless woman whom Jesus healed—
She only touched the hem of His garment,
As to His side she stole,
Amid the crowd that gathered around Him,
And straightway she was whole.
It is encouraging to know that His saving power this very hour can give new life to all who by faith take hold of His skirt (Zechariah 8:23).
© 1988 Zondervan. All Rights Reserved

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/9-20.htm
And behold a woman which was diseased..... This affair happened in the streets of Capernaum, as Christ was going from the house of Matthew the publican, to the house of Jairus the ruler of the synagogue, which were both in this city. This poor woman's case was a very distressed one; she had been attended with an issue of blood twelve years; it was an uncommon flux of a long standing, was inveterate, and become incurable; though she had not been negligent of herself, but had made use of means, applied herself to regular physicians, had took many a disagreeable medicine, and had spent all her substance in this way; but instead of being better, was worse, and was now given up by them, as past all cure. This woman might be truly called , (x) "the greater profluvious woman", in the language of the doctors; for if one that had a flux but three days was called so, much more one that had had it twelve years. She having heard of Jesus, and his miraculous cures, had faith given her to believe, that she also should receive one from him; wherefore she came behind him, through modesty, being ashamed to come before him, and tell him her case, especially before so many people; and fearing lest if her case was known, she should be thrust away, if not by Christ, yet by the company; she being according to the law an unclean person, and unfit for society: and touched the hem of his garment; which was the or "fringes", the Jews were obliged to wear upon the borders of their garments, and on it a ribband of blue; see Numbers 15:38 in both which places Onkelos uses the word the same with used here, and in Mark 6:56 and rendered "hem". The Jews placed much sanctity in the wear and use of these fringes; and the Pharisees, who pretended to more holiness than others, enlarged them beyond their common size; but it was not on account of any peculiar holiness in this part of Christ's garment, that induced this poor woman to touch it; but this being behind him, and more easy to be come at, she therefore laid hold on it; for it was his garment, any part of it she concluded, if she could but touch, she should have a cure. However, we learn from hence, that Christ complied with the rites of the ceremonial law in apparel, as well as in other things.
(x) Ib. Issure Bia, c. 6. sect. 7, 8. & in Misn. Nidda, c. 4. sect. 7.