In the name of the God who hears and knows, who accompanies and heals. Amen.
Today’s gospel lesson is jam-packed. We have three different characters interacting with Jesus, a healing that comes from a cloak, and the resurrection of a 12-year-old girl. Wow! Our first character is Jairus, the synagogue leader, a man of considerable importance and stature in the Jewish community. Second, there is a woman who is not named, only introduced as “a woman who had been suffering for 12 years.” Her position is doubly lowered, the intersection of being female and afflicted with a debilitating sickness. Two people from very different positions of power. Finally, there’s Jairus’ 12 year-old daughter. A young girl without much agency or power herself, but born into a powerful household. What’s striking to me, is how these people are treated by Jesus, how they approach him in their own ways, and how Jesus responds.
Jairus, the synagogue leader fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him repeatedly. “My daughter is about to die! Come! Lay your hands on her so that she may be made well and live.” My daughter Maddie just turned 16 on Tuesday. She is my pride. We watch Despicable Me and The Incredibles movies together, taking turns imitating the voices and reciting the lines we’ve memorized, laughing, relaxing, and enjoying each others’ company. We watch Timbers soccer together, celebrating goals and groaning over losses or poor plays. And she shares funny pictures and videos with me on her phone. She is my joy. I can NOT imagine the depth of my grief were she to be diagnosed with a terminal illness. And yet I know this is a possibility, all too real for some parents and families in our community.
Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him over and over, please, please, please, come and make her well! In his words I feel the powerful call of parents and families desiring their loved ones be made well. Made well from physical, mental or emotional pain or some combination of all three. Jesus’ response to Jairus is summed up in one short verse: “So he went with him.” He WENT with him. That’s it. Jesus poses no questions, no why? Who? How? no determination of worthiness, Jesus simply goes with him. That’s what Jesus does. He comes with us in our pain and suffering. Jesus is our companion on this quest for healing and wholeness.
The suffering woman had been trying for more than 10 years to find a cure, an effective treatment, any kind of relief. The lesson tells us that she had “endured much” and “spent all that she had and…was no better, but rather grew worse.” Some of you know what this is like in your own minds and bodies. Some of you care for those with long-term illnesses. This is demanding, exhausting, hard, hard work. Some of you have friends or family members in this same situation.
JESUS IS WITH YOU. Jesus goes with you, just like he went with Jairus.
“So he went with him.”
Unlike Jairus, the sick woman wasn’t able to come directly to Jesus. Perhaps this was impossible for her in this society, or perhaps she lacked the confidence or strength, But…she does come in her own way. She had heard about his power and his healing and she believed that if she could just get close to him, no need to explain or even ask, “if I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” This woman believed in her heart that Jesus had the power to heal, to change her life, to bring peace and wholeness. And so she came up behind him and reached out her fingers to touch his cloak. And IMMEDIATELY she felt in her body that she was healed. She knew and Jesus knew. “Who touched my clothes?” An impossible question in such a crowd of people packed together, jostling and brushing against each other. I imagine their eyes meeting across this sea of people. She comes trembling and falls down at his feet, just like Jairus, and tells her story, the whole truth of her pain and suffering and her reaching out for healing. Jesus responds by claiming her as a daughter, and sending her into her life in peace, proclaiming her healed.
“Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your disease.”
Now our story shifts back to Jairus and Jesus continues on to his house. But it’s too late, “Your daughter is dead, why trouble the teacher any further?” Jesus is there with Jairus and says, “Do not fear, only believe.”
When they arrive at the house people are weeping and wailing, and when Jesus says that she’s only sleeping they laugh in his face. Jesus takes the parents into the little girl’s room. He reaches out and takes her by the hand. “Talitha cum!” “Little girl, get up!” Immediately she gets up and starts walking around the room. Jesus asks her parents to get her a snack! Jesus’ response to this little girl is to return her to her parents and return her to her life. She has done nothing except belong to God, one of his beloved daughters. Jairus’ plea that his daughter be made well and live has been heard and answered.
Are we able, like Jairus, like the suffering woman, to ask for help, to come to Jesus for healing and wholeness? Boldly asking…just believing enough to reach out and brush against… or just living into our identity as beloved children of God, made in the Divine image.
Jesus hears our cries for help, whatever the form of our request. Jesus doesn’t judge or set gates to healing and wholeness. We are ALL worthy, ALL beloved of God. God desires first and foremost to be in loving relationship with each and every one of us. God in Jesus knows our pain, grief and struggles. Jesus offers wellness, peace and healing to ALL who come. God in Jesus comes with us, accompanying us in the terrible AND the joyful. Jesus takes our hands and raises us up, Talitha cum! Come on girl!
Siblings in the risen and healing Christ. I pray this Good News enters your hearts today:
Jesus hears you.
Jesus accepts and welcomes you.
Jesus goes with you, your companion on the way.
Jesus offers you healing.
Jesus is reaching out his hand to raise you up.
Talitha cum! Come on girl!
Amen.
