February 14, 2021
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But Jesus said, “someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.” – Luke 8:46
On their way to respond to a request for healing, Jesus and his followers have an encounter with an unnamed woman who has suffered hemorrhages for twelve years.
This woman, who had been suffering for a very long time. A woman, who had exhausted any money she had going to doctors in hopes for a cure. A woman, who because of her issue of bleeding was unclean according to the Jewish law. She was outcast from society, she would have been made to live outside the city gates, she would have had to tell everyone she encountered she was unclean.
If this woman was married, her husband would have long given her a certificate of divorce and moved on with his life. Due to her condition, it is extremely unlikely that this woman had any children. Most likely, she was constantly weak and tired due to iron deficiency.
She dealt with constant pain, poverty, insecurities, loneliness. She was one who was considered polluted, untouchable, unlovable.
I wonder how many of us relate to times when we feel unlovable, unforgivable, unreachable?
How long have any of us dealt with our issues of faithless spouses, nerve racking children, overbearing workloads. How many years have we dealt with our issues of unhappiness, depressions , addictions, and obsessions. Issues of low self-esteem, no self-esteem, uncertainty, perplexities.
This woman had dealt with her issues for twelve long years, she was alone, she was someone without any hope. Yet, here she is hiding in the crowd that is following Jesus to a miracle, and perhaps hoping beyond all hope for one of her own.
This woman was willing to take a chance on something… on someone… on Jesus.
She reaches out and touches the fringe of the garment of the one in whom she believes, has faith, and that she can be healed… and she receives her healing.
Today, we celebrate the transfiguration, the moment, Jesus is transformed before the eyes, making faith sight, to those who are with him (Peter, James, and John). But for the woman who was healed of hemorrhages, she already knew. It reminds us that even as we see Jesus transformed before us, today, we already know deep down. We know that Jesus is the place where we are healed, where we are loved, forgiven, and set free to worship and praise.
Grace & Peace,
Sam