Caught Off Guard
Some things you just have to do for yourself.
Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, 'Who touched my clothes?' And his disciples said to him, 'You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, "Who touched me?"' He looked all around to see who had done it. - Mark 5:29-32
In today's Gospel reading from Mark, Jesus is making his way through a crowd when a woman approaches from behind and touches his cloak, seeking to be healed.
What I like about this story is the fact that Jesus is caught unaware. The healing happens through him, but without his knowledge.
In all the other miracles, there is an encounter, a dialogue, an exchange that takes place between Jesus and the person seeking his help either for himself or for another.
In some cases, Jesus would say that it was the person's faith that made them well, not taking credit himself. But in this case, the action taken is clearly the woman's initiative and not Jesus', proof that the power to heal is in our hands.
If all we need to do is reach out and touch the hem of his garment, what does that tell us we could do for ourselves to walk away whole, to be healed?
I believe the fact that Jesus could be caught off guard, that his power could be directed to heal without his involvement is a good sign for us. It says the decision to move in faith toward healing is ours and no one else's.
We are alive in the kingdom right now. We have nothing to wait for. We are the key to our own salvation, should we choose to take control and act in faith.
That's a powerful realization for all of us. But it may be too powerful, leading us to doubt.
The woman who approached Jesus knew she would be healed. She had no doubt it was the thing she needed to do.
For us, it may be something else we know in our hearts is the thing we need to do. If I could just get to a 12-Step program, if I could just get counseling, if I could just make it through this day, if I could just...
The solution we are waiting for may be in us. It may be that we know what we need to do and are afraid to do it.
Perhaps we are waiting for Jesus to find us on the road and ask us what it is we want. That may not happen. We just might have to run up to him and get his attention.
So, what are we waiting for?
More to come...