I'm not sure I can buy it in this particular case, but you make a valid argument. I agree with what you said earlier in that disease was commonly associated with guilt or sin at the time. This was especially true of leprosy. But now we know "better", and do not make that sort of connection automatically (although I would never throw out the possibility on a case by case basis). So, if you are with me so far, and knowing what you know now, how would you reconcile that with the ancient belief? IOW, do you think that the woman was riddled with sin and thus stricken for years and years because that would have been a common conclusion made by others at the time, or do you think she really was stricken because of sin, independently of what other people thought at the time? If you say she was stricken, do you think that many sicknesses or maladies today are the result of sin?
In this episode obviously she had faith (v28) before touching the garment. But healing did not happen till she actually touched it.
OK, this goes to what our views of "healing" are, and more importantly, what "faith" is, as the article you showed me pointed out.
We certainly can do work that spiritually benefits the other, that is the Catholic belief.
I'm not sure I understand your point here. Every time my pastor does the work of preparing and delivering his sermon, I benefit spiritually from it. In your Paul example, he suffered and was ultimately martyred. That was of great spiritual benefit to the Church because it both inspired and focused people towards Christ. "What is this mystery that Paul gave his life for?" I don't understand how this compares with infant Baptism because in your example, the benefits were that people LEARNED something. Obviously babies can't do that.
What you say about Jesus is true, but the benefits of His sacrifice were much more significantly supernatural. Do you mean that the benefits of Paul's sacrifice were partially supernatural? Anyone else's?
Not at all, I think they very often are opportunities to turn to God and so vehicles of grace. "God loved me so much, He gae me cancer" is a very valid turn of thought.
in your example, the benefits were that people LEARNED something. Obviously babies can't do that.
We learned nothing from Paul's "thorn". If anything, it probably prevented him to teach more (for example, he depended on secretaries to write). So, while learning from others' work is one example, it is not the only scenario. There is also a supernatural benefit that we derive from the Christian martyrs, for example, even if we are unaware of them. Likewise, a baby benefits from the prayers of the Church, because they direct the gaze of Christ toward the baby, if I may wax poetic for a minute.
Jairus's daughter did not know Jairus interceded for her.