The psalmist tells us that "the Lord is kind and full of compassion" (v 8). This is dramatically played out in the healing of a woman and a young girl in today's Gospel reading. The young girl is 12 years old. Her father, Jairus, had come to Jesus when she was dying. But by the time he was before Jesus, his daughter had died. Yet, he still presented his petition to Jesus, to "lay Your hand on her and her life will be saved" (v 8). This Jesus did and "she stood up" (v 25).

The woman who was healed, was a woman with a 12-year old haemorrhage. She did not present herself in front of Jesus as Jairus did. In fact she had stood behind Jesus. Why? Was it because of her shame as an "unclean woman" (she had been bleeding for 12 years)? And yet, in her heart she had this thought, "If I can only touch His cloak I shall be well again" (v 27). She did. And what was Jesus' response? He said to her, "Courage, My daughter, your faith has restored you to health" (v 22). The Gospel records, "and from that moment the woman was well again" (v 22).

Why did Jesus do what He did? He had compassion for the father and the woman. The psalmist says, "How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all His creatures" (v 9). What is it that you are grappling with today? Go to the Lord, Who is "kind and full of compassion."