Mark 5: 25-34
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.”
Have you ever noticed how prolonged suffering can bring shame and humiliation? I was speaking with two women; one who had “graduated” from transitional housing and was now able to provide housing for herself and her two children, the other a current resident in a transitional living home for women and children. They both spoke of the shame they felt when they were “exposed” to others as “homeless women.” Both of these women were hard workers, trying to provide for their children without the support of a partner. Both of these women lived in one of the most expensive housing areas in the nation. Both of these women felt judged and shamed because they were unable to do the impossible.
I love the story included in the Gospels. A woman, called “unclean” by all the people around her, excluded from family life and religious life, judged by all and living under a shroud of fear and shame; this woman maneuvers her way through a crowd of people to touch the hem of a man who has healed so many others. Her feelings of unworthiness, of uncleaness, kept her from seeking Him face to face. Does her inability to face her own situation keep her from experiencing the healing power of God? Don’t we often insinuate that we must “walk boldly” to receive what we need?
Jesus heals this woman in her shame. Jesus heals this woman of her shame. “Daughter…go in peace…” What incredible words spoken to someone who has heard only rejection and disgust. She has been told to go, to leave, many times. But it has been a long time since a Rabbi spoke the words “Go in peace.”
Jesus has come to bring healing to all that we are: our bodies, our souls, and our spirits. Jesus calls us to seek Him that we may be made whole, that we may find peace. Jesus takes our shame, our sorrow and our sickness and replaces them with healing and peace. We can come boldly, knowing that He understands; but when we are to injured to be bold, Jesus meets us right where we are.
May we find in Him what we need today.