We are living in chaotic times as we try to pay attention to and
cope with the whiplashing effects of random violence, continuing
de-humanization of some groups of people by others, the political polarization
in this country and around the world, terrible weather events, and the
devastation of ongoing wars. It often feels much like the storm in the Sea of
Galilee, in last week’s Gospel, that so frightened experienced sailors they
woke the sleeping Jesus who calmed the seas and stilled the winds. This week
the reading begins after the sea was quieted as Jesus, with the disciples,
crossed over to the other side. In our time
we continue to cross the churning seas of daily news as we seek to re-establish
our footing on something that resembles solid ground. In the disarray, the
anger, and the fear, some of us move into new consciousness, some of us retreat
into the old.
This week even as David returns home a victor
in war, he crosses over the exultation of winning into the woeful lament and
mournful loss of Saul and Jonathan. Saul became an enemy that David still loved
nonetheless, and Jonathan was in life closer to his heart than anyone else.
David exclaims 3 times in this reading: "How the mighty have fallen!"
and we suddenly realize how the fallen "mighty" are just
ordinary mortals like the rest of us. Even the “mighty” will end their earthly
sojourn in a grave, the great equalizer of us all.
Paul enters testy waters as he asks the
Corinthians to cross over from a previous idea of financial support for the
poor in Jerusalem, to actually finishing the plan and giving the funds. He
tells us that if we are eager to help, any gift is acceptable given according
to what we have and not given from what we do not have. I especially like when
he says in verses 13 and 14, I do not mean that there should be relief
for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of fair balance between
your present abundance and their need…What is too much; what is too little?
Our own eagerness – or lack of – will determine how we give.
As Mark gives us Jesus and the
Disciples after the storm on the other shore, Jesus is met by a frightened
father in fear of his daughter's serious illness. Jesus agrees to go to see the
child. On the way, a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for 12 years reached for
and touched his cloak and was suddenly healed. Perhaps those witnessing also
crossed over into an even greater level of faith in Jesus as Jesus tells the
woman, "Your faith has made you well." And it was the faith of Jairus
that Jesus responded to yet as he approached, the wailers and weepers declared
the child was dead. Jesus responds by telling them that she is just sleeping
and the wailers laughed.
An interesting point
is that earlier in Mark’s Gospel (6:5-6) it says that
while in Nazareth, Jesus could do no deed of power because of the
unbelief of those in his hometown. When there is no faith, healing is
exponentially more difficult. To that end, he sends all the scoffers away,
takes mom, dad, and his disciples into see the little girl, and once inside they
all become collaborators* with Jesus through their faith,
unlike the home-crowd in Nazareth.
As the child crosses
back into life from death, I remember my long-held curiosity about the woman
suffering for 12 years and the 12 year old girl. Twelve years and twelve years…**
I wonder (as usual) ~ what has all this to do with my own
faith? This doesn’t appear to me as message to say that if I’m not immediately
healed of some affliction that my faith isn't strong enough. Maybe I/we
need to revisit what we mean by healed. Perhaps it is that in
the reaching for Jesus we are led to faith in action inwardly as well as
outwardly. In the most difficult times, when faith is strained, perhaps it is
enough to believe that prayer brings God's support to every forward step we
attempt to take even if the outcome we most desire isn’t seemingly fulfilled.
With our constancy in prayer, we will be more able to live out our
faith with far less fear of what is or isn’t and of what is to come. I think
that it is in the working through our faith, in all of the sea changes of life,
that our souls are healed, or at least mended, and our confidence of
Christ’s presence within us grows. It is also that gathering in a determined
community of faith, crossing various angry seas at times and floating along in
the moments of tranquil waters, that we find our strength and purpose. With all
hands on deck, we join together, in a collaboration of faith, sea-ing the changes
we face, and in so doing, we are each touching the hem of Christ. In giving
money, time, and talent as we are able, in principle and love, we will bring
ourselves and each other to that heavenly shore, where there is no death, or
chaos, or strife, but only life everlasting. In God, through Jesus, by the
power of the Holy Spirit, there is plenteous redemption.
*On
Facebook, I happened to see a meme with a quote from John Dominic Crossan, one
of my favorite theologians. When asked why God doesn’t do this or that, Crossan
said: While we are waiting for God’s intervention, God is waiting for our
collaboration.
**I
finally searched on this point and while here is only one source, I found it
fascinating and of course the comments that follow it are, well, what they are.
I will continue to explore but here’s a beginning point, do click and read and
let me know what you think: https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/13692/two-stories-intertwined-in-mark-a-12-year-old-daughter-and-woman-with-a-12-year
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord
of Mercy and Hope, as we more easily turn to You in the tragedies of life,
remind us that Your presence is constant even in the everyday routines.
Guide us to be as constant
with You, mindful that even a hesitant prayer touches Christ’s hem, grows our
faith, and strengthens our souls.
O God of Plenteous Redemption
O Lord, hear us call
~ O
Lord of Mercy and Hope, awaken compassion, virtue, and morality within
ourselves and in all who govern in our world, our country, and our community,
to ensure an equitable balance between the vast abundance of the few and the significant
needs of the many. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O God of Plenteous Redemption
O Lord, hear us call
~ O
Lord of Mercy and Hope, relieve the suffering of those with serious illness,
addiction, or desperate life circumstance, and give wisdom and respite to those
who give them care. We now join our voices to pray for those in need…add
your own petitions
O God of Plenteous Redemption
O Lord, hear us call
~ O
Lord of Mercy and Hope, fill us with the peace of knowing that those
who have crossed to the other side, now live again forever, in the glorious
bliss of Your eternal kingdom. We pray especially for: add your
own petitions
O God of Plenteous Redemption
O Lord, hear us call
~
O Lord of Mercy and Hope, we pause in this moment to offer You
our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials,
aloud or silently…add your own petitions
O God of Plenteous Redemption
O Lord, hear us call
~ O
Lord of Mercy and Hope, strengthen those whom you have
called to be our anointed guides through all the uncharted waters of this
earthly sojourn. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
O God of Plenteous Redemption
O
Lord, hear us call
The
Celebrant adds:
O Lord of Peace and Wholeness, as
the woman reached to Jesus, and the child awakened at his call, grant us the
determination to reach towards You with fearless faith, eagerness of heart, and
purity of intent. May justice and mercy prevail among all Your people. We ask
through Jesus, our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier; who together
with You reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.
