If I but touch his clothes, I will be healed....(Mk. 5:24-34)
Points to Ponder/Discuss:
Where do we turn for healing? Ourselves, Others, God, Do we
point fingers???
Consider a specific ailment (physical, spiritual,
emotional)…
What concrete steps can we take toward healing?
In what way is healing an option?
What about us does GOD consider broken?
In other words,
what is the TRUTH of my brokenness?
Today, we go still deeper into the
mystery and gift of Christ’s healing power. Last class we were challenged to
have faith in God’s healing power and His love for us, and to see healing
primarily as freedom from sin. In short, we RECOGNIZED our need for healing and
the possibility of accepting that freedom.
First, we RECOGNIZE, but then we must REACH.
A most strikingly evident example of
this in the Gospels is the woman with a hemorrhage. She had suffered despite the care of doctors for
many years. This poor woman had tried earthly
remedies with zero positive results. The physicians were focused only on her
physical being. The result: her
“life-blood” was draining from her.
We often seek healing in medicine,
psychologists, exercise, and home remedies.
All of these can be good and may serve a very noble purpose on our path
to sanctity. But, when these are
separated from the power of God, when we do not seek to heal our PERSON, we in
the end are not fully healed. Our wounds
and pains, rather, should lead us to Jesus.
At some point we must take action – and we much reach out for the Lord.
The
woman in the Gospel first HEARD. Hearing
is not just a matter of sound waves vibrating the ear drum; it is a matter of
listening and in this case, listening to and about the Word. By LISTENING, this
woman believed. Her listening and faith required a response if her desire was
to be fulfilled: “She
had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his
cloak. She said, ‘If I but touch his
clothes, I shall be cured.’”
Some of us are able to speak, some of
us are able to go long distances, some of us have the courage to shout in the
midst of a crowd. Then, there are those of us who are too sick in body or soul
to do such things. Our only strength is our faith, and our hope is in letting
it move us to reach out. This was the
woman’s act of faith, no words or great deeds were necessary, only a simple
touch springing from faith in the Word of God and a desire to draw strength
from that Word. Within us there must be
a desire to overcome and act against obstacles. There must be a spark of love
or even desperation that pushes us through the throngs of this earthly life to
touch, even gently, the Divine Healer.
And when He turns to us, we may
confidently tell the whole truth, holding nothing back, and allowing Him to
further illuminate our minds and calm our fears. In the light of Truth we come
face to face with the roots of our weakness, vulnerability, and pain.
However, having reached out to Him in
faith and willing to fall before Him in truth and hope, we too will hear the
words of Christ, “Courage…
your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”
He wills our peace; so must we.
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