Take Heart, Daughter!

While Jesus was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district. Matthew 9:18-26 

Yesterday was the International Day of the Girl Child. I am a girl child and I gave birth to and nurtured, as best as possible, three girl children. Yesterday, the boy scout of America chose that moment to announce that girls would be "allowed" into scouting, although we have been scouting for generations. Things are better for girls and women, for the most part, in the present day. The importance and capacity of women is still overlooked, underpaid and always compared unfavorably to men still.

Jesus is on the move again. The healings that happen involve a dead girl child and a woman who has bled for a very long time. There were taboos against touching women, especially ones who are bleeding or dying. Jesus stretches out his hand, his love and his respect for them, counter to his culture and upbringing. God invites us to see Jesus as the outpouring of God's true love and compassion for all people, all genders, all orientations and all cultures.

Today I ask God to help me live God's love and compassion. May we embrace difference and illness with the love that has healed us and given us life.