(Mark 5.21-43)
This morning, we hear a well-known Gospel passage. A Good News passage. A passage where we feel good about the outcome. And this is a good thing!
What if Jesus had not healed the woman
What if he had limited his powers so she could not access his healing
What if he had ignored her instead
What if he had ostracised her, the way the disciples suggested
What if ???
What if Jairus had not come to seek Jesus’ help
What if Jesus had not gone to her home
What if he had listened to the people outside the door, telling him it was too late
What if he had been dissuaded by the disbelievers and non-believers
What if ???
Well: For the most part; life would have gone on.
The woman would have continued: in pain, with hemorrhage: having depleted her financial resources, segregated from community, likely desperate and exhausted
That was her norm, after all; 12 years of suffering with no other options.
The girl would have died.
Her parents would have grieved; the community would have offered support.
And the communal norm would have gone on: bakers baking, cleaners cleaning, merchants making sales… because that’s what community does.
Yet even if those sad possibilities had happened, let’s remind ourselves that these women had MUCH to teach us.
A lot about the world; a lot about ourselves; a lot about Jesus.
Both women are unnamed.
Both women are experiencing need.
Both women are at extremes
Both women have faith, and come to Jesus.
And Jesus then comes to them. Meets them where they are. And says: I see you; you are important, you are valued, you are respected.
You are worthy of life.
In both cases, the women are named Daughter.
Jairus’ little girl; and the woman who is called child of God by Jesus himself.
Daughter: beloved. Belonging.
Both women are given a cure: not just a reprieve from their ailment – which would have been great. Ask anyone who suffers, a reprieve is a gift.
They are not given just a healing, - though that also would have been wonderful. For the body to recover, to return to a proper physiological functioning – fantastic!
Yet they are given more: They are given a cure.
Cure. -which means care and concern – which means Jesus has offered to them not just a physical or emotional betterment, but a spiritual care and concern for their souls to be well.
This is profound.
It is making them whole: holistically, entirely, in ways that the world could not – and can not – accomplish.
It is, coming from Jesus, life-changing: because it is life-giving.
Because though the world would put up barriers, and offer loopholes, Jesus came.
He disregarded the limitation of ritual uncleanness. Which would have been undeniable, given the matters of blood, and death: for life is more important than even appropriate social structures. Ritually unclean people were limited in how much they (and their friends and family) could interact in community, in the marketplace, in prayer and worship. There were severe limitations on being pronounced unclean.
Yet, Jesus knew that just as ritual defilement was easy, so too was ritual cleansing. Jesus came
He disregarded the cultural taboos of gender barriers – a woman. A girl. These were people who – at the time were not considered people at all, but extensions of the men to whom their care had been extended. A husband, father, son. They were generally considered to be unworthy of extra time, attention, and energy – let alone other resources – of men
Yet Jesus knew that they had people to care for them, yet their needs exceeded what those men could provide (through no fault of the their own). Jesus came.
He disregarded the cultural norms that should have kept them apart. Unrelated men and women simply did not touch; they did not make contact. For the bleeding woman to push her way through the crowds – thereby touching many people and technically making them unclean – in order to touch the very hem of Jesus’ cloak. This was taboo.
For Jairus to approach – Jairus, who was a leader at the synagogue – the religious institution that wasn’t too pleased with Jesus’ actions (this was the synagogue that had belittled him and forced him away from the synagogue, as a result of his healings and teachings.)
Yet Jesus knew that societal barriers were not a reason to deny someone grace, and love, and dignity. Jesus came.
He came: and he brought life.
Life in body; life in mind; life in spirit.
The mere presence of the Lord brought new and renewed life.
And it continues to do that for us.
For at times, we are the people in this story: the unnamed woman; who feels like she doesn’t quite fit within society – but wants to:
She comes and is made whole; her emotional needs met by her re-integration in community; her faith teaching others the power of having and maintaining faith.
We are the unnamed child: helpless, without Jesus:
Important to those who love us – and to God - - so much as to get out of the comfort zone and ask for help.
Important to society as a whole, even if society couldn’t yet name our contributions
We are the bystanders, who pray for restoration of health;
We are the crowd, who can make someone anonymous to anyone but God
We are the family, the friends, the supporters: who make it possible for Jesus to come in.
For with Jesus comes life.
Life in this world – sometimes long, sometimes painfully short
Sometimes fantastic, sometimes excruciating.
Life is complex, and it can be overwhelming. But at all times, when we see through the eyes of faith, we see that life is beautiful: for it extends far beyond the immediate world that we see. :
So what if?
What if we decide to not only embrace life for ourselves, but support it and champion it for others?
What if we are the ones clearing the way for the life-giving power of Jesus to reach those who are hungry for justice, for inclusion, for that very life?
What if we can do something – anything! - for the people in our lives – those named or unnamed – celebrating what we all want: that richness of Life.
What if we become life-supporters, rejoicing in the life that has been given to us; and doing our part to facilitate that life coming (and coming again) to all.
For Jesus comes: and generates life.
Jesus comes: and renews life.
SO let us find the comfort and spiritual healing that is offered in the scriptures today.
Jesus has come to give life: To us. Today.
May we accept the promise of healing, and of cure.
May we receive the gift of LIFE – abundant and eternal life – that only God can offer us.
May we hear the words of Jesus speak into our hearts:
“beloved child, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of all that ails you.”
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