
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying.
As he went, the crowds pressed in on him.Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.’ When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’
While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.’ When Jesus heard this, he replied, ‘Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.’ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, ‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
-Luke 8:40-56
“Your faith has made you well; go in peace.” We can be at our lowest of lows when we reach out to God: in our biggest moments of grief when experiencing the death of a loved one or child; when we face exclusion and discrimination; when we are labeled an outcast in our society; when we suffer through severe illness; in struggling to maintain our faith. The miracles Jesus performs in today's reading reminds us that to seek God brings us healing. Jesus says many times throughout the Gospels to those seeking him that their faith is what made them well. It did not matter where they were coming from, whether it was from a leader of the synagogue or from a woman who had been socially rejected, Jesus’s love does not discriminate. Our faith in Him will heal us physically and spiritually.
Musical Reflection - Heart of Worship - Michael W. Smith
Dear God, we come to you asking to heal our hearts, our minds, and our spirits. Strengthen our faith and empower us to walk in your light. In your name we pray, Amen.
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