+ Today we see Jesus, in the gospel passage, curing two females,
one very young and one very old. It is interesting to note that
both were considered dead – the little girl, dead to life in the body, the
older woman, dead to society – for having the hemorrhage for twelve years made
her unclean and unable to participate at all in community life, thus, for all
intents and purpose rendering her dead to the world.
And, so while on his way to
accomplish the first restoration, the woman in a sense, makes an enormous act
of faith, and bravery, for if it went wrong, just touching Jesus as she did
could have rendered him unclean and a social pariah as well. However, her act
of touching him not only did not make him an outcast, but by it he cast out all
future reference to the arcane rules regarding cleanness and uncleanness. She
was cured, and he proceeded on his way to restore a little girl to life, which
he did because he – as creator of the universe – has power over everything,
period.
And so, for us this means that
young or old, dead or alive in any way – we can confidently approach Jesus, who
by the action of the Spirit within him, can restore us to health of body, right
relationship in the community, or any kind of restoration that is needed – so
that we can continue our lives as his disciples, and torch-bearers in a world
that grows exponentially darker by the hour.
There will be many broken and
dead relationships, bodies, families, government institutions and international
alliances that will rely on us, who have insight, moral backbone, and a voice
to speak out – to save a world that is on the brink as well of becoming renewed
and restored itself when Jesus comes again as King, and Judge 0 if it changes
is pagan tune.
Let us courageously and boldly
play our God-given roles in salvation history – we have all the power of God
with us – it should be a breeze, then, the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit
leading us moment by moment to glory – both personally and collectively!
The Lord is gracious and
merciful!
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