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." 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
Yesterday was a day of tremendous healing for our church. I had the rare privilege of participating in the election of our next presiding Bishop. Michael Curry was elected on the first ballot by overwhelming numbers. It was not what some of us expected but our joy was uncontrollable. A church which has had a history of saying one thing and doing another, yesterday made a bold statement. The church, which has often sided with the wealthy, privileged and white, is now choosing to be lead by an African American, a man of God, a true faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Miracles are breaking out all over.
Jesus was aware of the pain and hurt around him. He stopped to heal a woman in the crowd and reassure her of her faith. He went with the father, who was terrified for his child, and even in the face of death pressed on. We are invited by Jesus today to see God's grace as always around us, always moving towards us, always pressing on. We might be disappointed in the timing, but we are not to lose hope. God is pressing on, through the crowds of life and the obstacles and naysayers in the way. The arc of God's justice and love is steady, sure and always moving.
Today I am just so grateful to have lived this far. There are not many words to process what we have experienced. So, let us take time to be thankful for God's love and justice made visible in our midst. May we be agents of God's healing and love in the days to come.
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