Stolen Grace

Is it stealing someone else's grace if we reach out and grab the power of God?

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live." So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, "If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 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. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. - Mark 5:21-43

In today's Gospel reading, two people are cured.

One is a young girl, twelve years old, who suddenly dies.

The other is an old woman who had suffered her illness for as long as the young girl lived.

 I don't think it is a coincidence that the span of years mentioned here is the same for these two.

What it points out is that we could find ourselves in need of healing at any time, and the powers that be may have no way to cure us or keep us well.

It also shows us that we need to take action if we want God to help us.

Jairus came to Jesus to ask for his help, and the woman reached out and grabbed his cloak.  Both took action.  Both came to Jesus and sought his help.

We need to do the same.

We can't rely solely on the doctors and scientists to tell us what our chances are, or what course of treatment is best.  We need to seek out God's help as well.

Prayers work.  And peas for help work too.

God listens to us and so we should listen to Him.

The woman may have stolen Jesus' power by reaching out to touch him, but he willingly gave her peace and healing when she did.

So, maybe we need to get a little aggressive and go for it ourselves.

All we need is a little faith and a lot of courage.

More to come...