The Whisper.

The woman had been subjected to bleeding for 12 years. It was a disease that no one could fathom, not even the doctors could cure her. She had nothing left in her life now -- her earthly possessions were spent on fleeting hopes that she could forever be cured. Not only had she no possessions, she had no friends to speak of, because blood was considered unclean; a woman literally covered in blood was all the more abominable. She never felt so alone in her life. Just when all hope was gone from her life, she received news. Her heart caught in her throat. Could it be true? Not daring herself to expect too much, she went out into the street to catch a glimpse of the stranger from Nazareth. There he was. A crowd was gathered around him. The woman hesitated. What do you have to lose? He's your only hope. The woman took a step forward towards the crowd. The man was surrounded by the crowd. I could never get him to notice me, the woman thought to herself. What should I do? She followed the crowd quietly. If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Just then, there was an opening into the crowd. The man was in sight. She hurriedly stretched out her hand towards the man. Her hand brushed past his clothes. The woman could not believe it. Immediately, her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. The joy in her was irrepressible. After 12 years, 12 years! Then, she heard a voice asking, "Who touched my clothes?" The man had stopped in his tracks, looking around the crowd. Her heart skipped a beat. He knew? The men beside him looked at the man in disbelief. "You see the people crowding against you and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?'" The woman started to tremble. What would he say when he found out that an unclean woman had touched him? What would the crowd do to her? She wanted to slip out quietly, he would never know. But the man kept looking around to see who had done it. A rush of emotions went through her and she came and fell at his feet and told him the whole truth, trembling in fear. To her surprise, the man's expression was gentle and soft. He looked at her kindly and told her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

This is not just a story about how a woman got healed. The woman who was seen to be unclean, who was an outcast in her own community was being acknowledged and seen as a worthy person in the eyes of that stranger she didn't know before. But the stranger knew her. He was looking for her amidst the throng of people surrounding him.

It's a story of love and grace and mercy. When we feel tired, when we feel like there isn't any hope left in the world, we search. We search for something to fill that gaping hole in our hearts. But even so, we still feel empty. That's because we haven't been looking in the right place. Just like how the doctors couldn't cure the woman's illness after she'd spent her entire fortune seeking their help. Just a whisper, he hears you. You, standing far away from the attention, so lonely and helpless. He sees you, and he's looking for you. Only he knows what you're going through. And when you go to him, he'll tell you, "Child, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."