Dearest e-votees,
This week's assigned gospel text is a pair of healings that are nested together. Again, this week's e-vo was shaped through conversations at the weekly text study I attend.
Healing is something we all need--physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. May we all know more deeply the healing touch of Jesus this day.
Peace,
Karl
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21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Mark 5:21-43, NRSV
In some ways the two healings parallel one another: both involve nameless females; 12 years is a significant number in their lives (the length of suffering of the bleeding woman and the entirety of life of the young girl); both are ceremonially unclean and others should be avoiding contact with them; both have a someone making a distinct effort to reach out to Jesus for help; both have presumably run out of options and are making an 11th hour desperation plea to Jesus.
In some ways the two healings starkly contrast one another: a nameless woman is healed in the midst of a huge crowd while the daughter of a prominent synagogue leader is healed while shut out from the rest of the world; the bleeding woman reaches out to Jesus physically while Jesus reaches out and takes the hand of the dead girl; the bleeding woman's healing was viewed by many and surely part of conversations for weeks to come while Jesus orders the parents, the little girl and the disciples that no one should know about the healing. In many ways the table are turned: the outcast is restored prominently in community while the community leader is sequestered and hushed; the high made low and the low made high; the dying is made well; the dead one is restored to life. Our understanding and circumstances are no match for the kingdom of God breaking into the world.
If we were to wonder how these verses affect us and our world perhaps it might come to bear as follows:
We might notice that Jesus is alive and at work in the world regardless of the station or circumstance of those of us in the world. Jesus brings healing to all.
Our ways, our understandings and our perspectives may have to be made low as God's purposes are raised high.
Community and relationships are restored as Jesus does the work of the ministry he has been given. If we are followers of him perhaps such goals might be ours as well.
We may find ourselves more like the bleeding woman or more like the dying and dead girl. The real point is not so much who they were but rather who Jesus was and how important they both were to him. We can get so fixated on ourselves and our worthiness (or lack thereof) and our contributions. The one who had something to offer was (and still is) Jesus. He generously gives to both of these situations that beckon him. As we grow in faith (also something Jesus generously gives) we find ourselves benefactors of so many blessings of God. May we steward them well and point others to the source of all of our blessings.
God, open our souls to the text that is appointed for Sunday. Help us to find healing as only you can bring. Amen.
This week's assigned gospel text is a pair of healings that are nested together. Again, this week's e-vo was shaped through conversations at the weekly text study I attend.
Healing is something we all need--physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. May we all know more deeply the healing touch of Jesus this day.
Peace,
Karl
------------
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
In some ways the two healings parallel one another: both involve nameless females; 12 years is a significant number in their lives (the length of suffering of the bleeding woman and the entirety of life of the young girl); both are ceremonially unclean and others should be avoiding contact with them; both have a someone making a distinct effort to reach out to Jesus for help; both have presumably run out of options and are making an 11th hour desperation plea to Jesus.
In some ways the two healings starkly contrast one another: a nameless woman is healed in the midst of a huge crowd while the daughter of a prominent synagogue leader is healed while shut out from the rest of the world; the bleeding woman reaches out to Jesus physically while Jesus reaches out and takes the hand of the dead girl; the bleeding woman's healing was viewed by many and surely part of conversations for weeks to come while Jesus orders the parents, the little girl and the disciples that no one should know about the healing. In many ways the table are turned: the outcast is restored prominently in community while the community leader is sequestered and hushed; the high made low and the low made high; the dying is made well; the dead one is restored to life. Our understanding and circumstances are no match for the kingdom of God breaking into the world.
If we were to wonder how these verses affect us and our world perhaps it might come to bear as follows:
We might notice that Jesus is alive and at work in the world regardless of the station or circumstance of those of us in the world. Jesus brings healing to all.
Our ways, our understandings and our perspectives may have to be made low as God's purposes are raised high.
Community and relationships are restored as Jesus does the work of the ministry he has been given. If we are followers of him perhaps such goals might be ours as well.
We may find ourselves more like the bleeding woman or more like the dying and dead girl. The real point is not so much who they were but rather who Jesus was and how important they both were to him. We can get so fixated on ourselves and our worthiness (or lack thereof) and our contributions. The one who had something to offer was (and still is) Jesus. He generously gives to both of these situations that beckon him. As we grow in faith (also something Jesus generously gives) we find ourselves benefactors of so many blessings of God. May we steward them well and point others to the source of all of our blessings.
God, open our souls to the text that is appointed for Sunday. Help us to find healing as only you can bring. Amen.
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