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June 8, 2008 - 4th Sunday after Pentecost
While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and
knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her,
and she will live." And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a
woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and
touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak,
I will be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your
faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the
leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said,
"Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. But when the
crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.
And the report of this spread throughout that district.
-- Matthew 9:18-26
Healing can come in many forms and through many venues. The leader of the synagogue
searched for Jesus and begged him to heal his precious daughter, while the woman with the
hemorrhage tried to sneak through the crowd and touch his cloak. Both were "made well".
We can relate to the leader of the synagogue and long for healing for a family member,
as well as the woman who searches for healing for herself. The important part of these
stories however is not how they came to Jesus, but to whom they turned when in need.
There is a great mystery to healing - how and when and if- but we do know to whom to
turn when in need. The leader of the synagogue and the woman with the hemorrhage remind us
to look to Jesus, the source of all life and wholeness.
We pray: O God, you are the source of life, and the ground of our being. By
the power of your Spirit bring healing to this wounded world, and raise us to the new life
of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
Lessons for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost:
- Genesis 6-8
- Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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