Sandwich

Apparently, Mark utilises a literary technique called a ‘sandwich.’

A sandwich requires two pieces of bread and an eatable middle. The Gospel has just this:

The opening of the story of Jarius and the request that Jesus heal his 12-year-old daughter (‘top piece of bread’).

The story of the woman with a 12-year-old hemorrhage who touches the garment of Jesus and is healed (‘middle of the sandwich’).

The concluding of the story of Jarius’ daughter who dies but then is raised by Jesus (‘bottom piece of bread’).

The four gospels are replete with encounters of women with Jesus. The women are a common element in our Gospel this week and so is the number 12.

Women present themselves as the most faithful disciples:

Who was present at the death of Jesus? Who was present at his resurrection?

Women understood that Jesus brought a revolution:

In the Old Testament, women gained their dignity by being aligned to a circumcised male.

In the New Testament, women gain their dignity directly from Christ via baptism.

The woman in the middle of the ‘sandwich’ is outstanding.

The crowds bustle Jesus, but she touches his garments.

Are we able to touch him too?

Amen.