June 28, 2015

13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time B

Wisdom 1: 13-15, 2:23-24; 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mark 5: 21-43

How do I get closer to the Lord? How do I realize how close the Lord is to me? How do I realize that it doesn’t matter who the person is: rich – poor, starving – well-fed, from what hemisphere or social strata, at every period in history and in the present – God views each person as important and wants to be with that person in an intimate way? Spending time with the Gospel today gives tremendous insight into Jesus’ interaction with people, touching them not only with healing but with His love.

I remember a Scripture professor in the seminary saying that this gospel was a great example of a ‘Marcan sandwich.’ I had never heard this phrase before and initially it didn’t sound very reverent. In this case it means that one story is begun, then interrupted by another and then the original story is picked up again. There is suspense in this since Jairus comes to ask healing for his daughter. Jesus starts out and is interrupted by the woman with a hemorrhage. What was going through Jairus mind – was he anxious over this interruption? Didn’t Jesus know that this was a life and death issue? This woman could certain wait; and he was an important person, wasn’t he? And this woman was ‘unclean’ and excluded from the community.

Who was this Jairus…Mark says that he was “one of the synagogue officials” which meant that he was an administrator and probably not a spiritual figure. He came and “fell at Jesus’ feet and pleaded earnestly with Him.” He certainly knew of Jesus’ reputation as a healer. This story might have seemed very sympathetic to Mark’s readers and even more so for in that culture sons are valued over daughters. Does it also tell us how much love this father had for his daughter which had to be very noticeable in his ‘pleading earnestly?’ Jesus went off with him and Mark tells us that there was a large crowd that accompanied them. Why? Did they just want to see some ‘magic’ or healing? Were they friends of Jairus or family? Did they want to find out more about Jesus? Were they doubters or in opposition to Jesus and wanted another opportunity to show that He was a fraud? More important than these questions, was the fact that the woman with the hemorrhage accompanied them? Who was she?

The woman’s suffering is vividly described: she had suffered this bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her savings on doctors to try to find a cure. I’m sure this was very humbling and embarrassing. It was even much worse in their culture: not only did they feel that any sickness or disease was a punishment from God for their sins or the sins of their parents, but also meant that this woman’s affection made her ‘unclean and defiled’ and ostracized her from any contact with her family and the community and even sexual contact if she was married. What courage she had…do I have the courage to approach God? Am I afraid? Why would I be afraid?

She reached out her hand as fearfully and anonymously as she could thinking that the clothes were an extension of the ‘healer’, they had power too. She touched Jesus’ robe and was immediately healed. Jesus turned and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” She was afraid and trembling. The disciples are saying, ‘Are you kidding…the crowd is huge.’ Was Jesus upset? No…It would seem that he was from the exchange but look at Jesus’ next words…”Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” His first word ‘daughter’ is a welcoming word. She is not excluded; she is recognized as a daughter of Abraham and a member of Jesus’ new family of faith. Her healing is a result of her faith. Jesus gives her a blessing “Go in peace” and sends her on her way. A great New Testament scholar, Pheme Perkins in New Interpreter’s Bible says, “The exchange between Jesus and the woman removes any suggestion that Jesus’ clothes were endowed with magical power, nor does Jesus condemn her for attempted ‘theft’ of His power. Jesus does not possess a magic force that accounts for His ability to heal. Instead, healing reflects the presence of God’s saving power … and Jesus’ saving and healing presence demonstrates that the kingdom of God is near.” AND it showed the crowd that women are important…a Jewish man never talked or carried on a dialogue with a woman in public. She is important; she is listened to; she is healed; she is loved by God.

Then Jesus continues His trek to Jairus’ daughter. Is she dead…Jesus ignores this report and says, “Do not fear, only believe.” Probably much of the crowd had remained and now the professional mourners are present. They had laughed when Jesus had said the little girl is not dead. Jesus takes the child’s parents, Peter, James and John and both touches the child and speaks to her. The Aramaic word Jesus used literally means, “Lamb, get up” which is a kind and gentle term of endearment.

Two healings…two love stories…two meditation stories of God’s attentiveness and care. The woman was desperate she had done everything she could. She was so humbled that the only hope she had was to touch Jesus…and JESUS wants to touch her. Jairus came to Jesus with deep humility too. Although he was an official, his love for his daughter took away any need for status. ILLNESS led these two people to complete and utter reliance on Jesus.

How many times I have been hurting; worrying about the outcome of a visit with my doctor or about what I am facing. Maybe even asking the question, ‘If God is a God of the living, why is there suffering, illness and death? Why do some die and others get a reprieve? Why does God allow people to die? And Jesus says, “Fear is useless, what is needed is trust.”

Jesus is telling me how to face reality. Msgr. Eugene Lauer in Sunday Morning Insights helps with these words: “Fear is useless, says Christ. Therefore, trust must be very useful. Fear is not to have control but to want it desperately. Trust is to yield control to God and to know that it’s okay not to be perfectly in charge of everything. Fear is to experience great upset over the ‘unknown.’ Trust is to recognize that God knows, even if I don’t and that’s sufficient. Fear is rooted in the conviction that my conclusion, my result is the only good one—nothing else will do. Trust is of the conviction that my efforts are of great importance—and God’s result will be just fine. Fear worries constantly about other living forces that have power over me to harm me. Trust has a final concern only for the one force who is stronger than all, who will care for me. Fear makes me shrink and constrict. Trust in God and in other trustworthy people allows me to open myself and expand. When Jesus opens many conversations with His apostles with ‘Fear not,” He isn’t being poetic. He is being practical. Fear is absolutely useless, produces nothing, contributes nothing to one’s growth and spiritual development, does nothing but ruin our experiences. Trust deeply and see your fears vanish.”

So I reflect on:

Jesus wants me to trust in Him! To do this I have to put off my own ‘old attitudes and mind sets’ and take on a ‘new mind’ that is formed in His image. I have to come in humility each day and say, help and to renounce what the world says and beg the Holy Spirit to fill me with His love.