The Sixth Week of Easter: From FEAR to HOPE

STEP ONE: BREATHE

Take a deep, cleansing breath. Allow the air to fill your lungs and expand your body. Exhale and empty yourself into the room. Repeat three times - once for the one who Created you, once for the Incarnate One who walks beside you, and once for the Spirit whose life fills your being.

STEP TWO: DWELL IN WORD

“Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.””

— Mark 5: 25-29

A Jesus Story Retold : Before the Good News “FEAR NOT”

Jesus and his disciples just crossed into our area this morning. I can’t quite believe how much I just paid for that information, but twelve years ago I wouldn’t have thought twice to spend three times this much for a cure. Twelve years ago I did spend far more than that in hopes of a cure.

As I prepare to leave my home, the fine pattern on my cloak reminds me of the time before this disease. The time when money was not a concern for me. When I had the means to acquire whatever I desired. Before all the doctors and all the treatments. Before all the healers and all the miracle cures. Before I had spent almost my entire fortune on trying to rid myself of this dreaded hemorrhage. With my second look at the cloak, I see only the wear at the bottom. The years of being dragged in the mud and the muck. Stepped on by strangers as we all jostled to get closer to this year’s miracle. At first, I spent the money to have the healers come to me. Between my father and my husband, no price was too high to fix me. At first. Then as time drug on, as more and more miracles passed me by, we all began to lose hope. First my parents died – my father was bankrupt from all the attempts at a cure. Then my husband married a second wife. I can’t blame him, a man needs children and heaven knows I can’t give them to him. He still supports me, but we can’t live as we could have – as we once did. Before…

I button my cloak and hurry out the door. I got the word that Jesus would be here before most, but still many have arrived before me. Soon the warmth of the day is matched by the warmth of the mass of humanity pressing in against me. I could probably have done without the heavy garment, but I need it for more than warmth. Imagine how the crowd would gasp if they saw the blood soaking through my clothes. Imagine how I would be ridiculed if they knew my affliction. The Torah calls me unclean – as all women are during their time. But my time is never over. I am always unclean. My bed is unclean, my chairs are unclean, anything I sit on or anyone I touch is unclean. Oh, how the crowd would recoil if they knew that the one they crowd in so close beside has such an ailment!

By rights, I should stay away from such places. It’s not really fair for me to be here, to be exposing so many to my unclean nature without their knowledge. But I can’t stay away. This Jesus is my last hope. If what they say of him is true, if even half of what they say of him is true, he can heal me. I catch sight of him talking with one of the leaders of the synagogue – they speak of a young girl. Someone near me whispers that Jairus’s daughter is only twelve years old – ironic that I have suffered as long as she has lived.

Jesus seems to be agreeing to go with him…and they are going to pass right by here. I have to get close enough – close enough to touch him…close enough to know. If he can heal with a word, would not just a touch of his garment be enough?

I brush my palm against just the hem of his garment and I know – I am healed, clean, restored. I brush against his garment and I know.

STEP THREE: PRAY

God of all the world, how we long to feel your presence! All the places we have constructed to feel your nearness are now closed to us, and those who have helped us to see your face must be distant as well. As we continue to be in a time that necessitates distance from our community and distance from our places of worship, remind us that nothing in all creation can distance us from you. Help us to feel your nearness to us this day, and each day that comes, and remind us that in you we are all knit into one body – even when it looks like we are apart. Amen

Today’s devotion is by Pastor Amanda Applehans