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A Tale of Two Females

 In a book called, "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs, he tried to follow all 435 commands found in the Torah or Pentateuch. One of those commands was that you couldn't touch a woman while she was having her period so he wouldn't hug, kiss, or hold the hand of his wife during her cycle. She learned that he couldn't sit where she sat, so when she became frustrated with him she would sit on every piece of furniture in the house so he would have to stand or sit on the floor the whole day. We don't know what kind of hemorrhaging this woman in the crowd was suffering, but for her to be so afraid of Jesus and the crowd that she didn't ask for healing, but just touched his cloak and had faith that she would be made well, we have to assume that she has spent twelve long years not being able to hug, kiss, or hold hands with her family and friends. This physical and social isolation seems to be more damaging as she persisted with this illness for twelve years. 

Yesterday, we had a large community show up to say good-bye to Nancy. There were many tears shed, stories told, and laughter shared. In our story today, other translations named that the mourners didn't just laugh at Jesus, but they mocked him. Some of them were probably professional mourners who came to help the family mourn the loss of their daughter. So they had little emotional ties to the family, though they were probably in a town where everyone knew everyone. We don't know much about the girl except she was about 12 years old and her father risked public humiliation by prostrating himself in front of Jesus to beg that she be healed. This was something that wasn't done, for it bordered on idolatry and resembled the Romans bowing down to their Caesar. 

I titled this sermon "A Tale of Two Females" though this story found in the gospels isn't about two individuals, it is about community. It is about the large crowd that shows up, maybe some of them are here to see the 'miracles', maybe many of them are following Jesus because they see something real and God-centered in him that they haven't experienced in their lives. It is about restoration of the woman that she may freely move about and interact with her community, becoming a part of them again. It is about the restoring the life of a girl who will soon become a woman and take her place as a member of her community. 

It is about no matter who you are, whether a wealthy highly religious guy or a woman who has been shunned for 12 years, or where you come from, you are welcome here. As we go into our annual meeting in a bit, may we work to restore relationships, heal the whole person who is in need, and be the body of Christ and kingdom of heaven here on earth. Amen.

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