O God, creator and sustainer of all, you call us to participate in your healing ministry and delegate to us a sacred trust, that of meeting you in the person of everyone who comes into our care. Grant us a spirit of respect and integrity, of honesty and truthfulness. Guide us to ask in each situation, "What is for the good of this patient?" Support us in the difficult decisions we make on your behalf. We ask all these things in your Holy Name. Amen.
There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who has touched my clothes?" But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowed is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, 'Who touched me?'" And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction." (Mark 5:21-34)