Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him, because power came forth from him and healed them all. There are several instances in the Gospel accounts where we find those to whom Jesus ministered exuding a level of faith that shocked even Jesus himself. And although the one instance which will readily come to our minds is the healing of the centurion’s servant (cf. Luke 7:1-10), the Gospel accounts present us with unnamed men and women whose faith in Jesus were exemplary. Their faith in Jesus was so strong that all they needed to do for their healing was to merely be in his presence and touch him. Today’s Gospel passage presents us with one of those instances.
Jesus’ fame preceded him to the areas that he was visiting and wherever he landed, he was greeted by a multitude of men and women who needed to be restored to wholeness or who needed to be reassured and/or consoled by the words that issued forth from his mouth. It is interesting to note that in today’s passage, after hearing Jesus speak, those who were in need of healing sought him out not to ask him to heal them but only to touch him. It is amazing to see the level of their faith in such a short spell Jesus had been with them. Their wanting to touch Jesus was in response on their part to have Jesus touch their lives. They wanted something of Jesus. They wanted him in their lives. They wanted his presence to remain with them always. It was a response of faith, since wanting to touch Jesus is what it means to believe (Pope Francis Lumen Fidei, 31). It didn't matter whether Jesus was aware of their touching or not. What mattered to them was their own action, what they could do. This is the response of faith.