Women Healed

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

I am not someone who swoons over royalty or fame. And I tried to avoid all of the programs leading up to the event today. And yet, I am moved and moved again to reflect on the transforming and healing power we all witnessed today as a world together. A little boy broken by the loss of his mum, a mother of color standing with royalty, and two bold young people listening to our PB proclaiming the love as Jesus as the healing and fire this world needs right now. It is a new time, if we let it be. It is a new moment for us to stand for love and peace and overcome  the voices of hate with loud songs of love and light.

Today in our Gospel we find Jesus in motion again, coming to the aid of real outcasts - real women who are broken by life and who, because of their gender and country of origin, were not included in the household of God nor considered worthy of God's loving touch. He turned the world upside down, breaking with thousands of years of tradition to bring love that knows no barriers, love that sees no color and hears all languages. Today we are invited to share the love of Jesus, the Balm of Gilead, the hope of God's love healing all our brokenness.

Today I ask God to help me be a carrier of God's love. May we not hold back but instead, run with joy to offer love and greeting to our family from around the world.