Luke 8:42b-48
As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.” When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
The story we were just following has been interrupted. Jesus has been approached by Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, with a request to heal his daughter. Presumably, Jesus is going along with him. When all of a sudden his progress is interrupted as a women in the crowds pushes her way through to touch him.
On first, glance, she couldn’t be more different from Jairus: she is a woman, rather than a man; she has little to no power in general and even more so given her condition, whereas he is a leader of the synagogue; and she has to push through the crowds rather than simply run up and approach him.
But whatever else we might notice about her, I am struck by her courage, as I find it rather astounding. Not just interesting, or even admirable, but downright astounding.
Think for a moment about her situation: She has been suffering for some time with a medical disorder. Not just for some time, actually, but for twelve years. Twelve years! And it wasn’t just any disorder, but one that may have had significant personal and perhaps social consequences as well, as it likely threatened her ability to bear children and in this way possibly isolated her from her community. She had seen physicians, and over the course of those twelve years spent all she had and so was now poor as well as suffering. Twelve years of bleeding, of suffering, of disappointment, and expense, all to no avail.
Given all this, think about the courage it took her to brave the crowds, expose herself to criticism, risk being ostracized for either her audacity or condition or both. Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, approach Jesus? Sure. This woman? No.
But whatever differences there might be between this woman and Jairus in terms of their status, gender, or history, one thing unites them: need. Each has a profound human need. And the reason these stories are sandwiched together in this way is to drive home the point that Jesus responds to need. Anyone’s need. Anyone’s.
Prayer: Dear God, remind us of your intention to reach out in love to all persons. Even us…even those very different from us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Recent Comments