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DonateJuly 2, 2000 |
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2 Samuel 1:17-27
Psalm 130
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
The Texts
The Samuel text continues the David stories begun in late June; in this text, David is lamenting the deaths in battle of Saul and Jonathan. The Psalm continues the theme of lament with, “Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord.” The New Testament texts are discontinuous with this theme. Paul has been holding the example of the churches in Macedonia before the church in Corinth. The Macedonians, though poor and undergoing a good deal of affliction, were overwhelmingly generous in their support of “the saints.” The Corinthians, in contrast, “abound in everything,” but the text suggests that they were slow to respond. Paul urges them to be generous on the basis of the Macedonian example, and indeed, on the example of our Lord who, though rich, became poor for our sakes. The Markan text recounts the story of Jesus’ healing of the woman who touched the hem of his garment, and his raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead.
Process Themes: Mark
Jesus was on his way to the home of Jairus in response to his request to heal his daughter when he is interrupted by the woman with the issue of blood. Jesus stops, asks who touched him, and after hearing the woman’s story, announces her healing. Persons arrive from Jairus’ home, announcing that the girl has died. Jesus nonetheless continues toward the home, and raises the child to life. A remarkable aspect of the story is the fullness of presence Jesus gives in each instance. The fullness of his response to Jairus does not render him senseless to the needs of the woman. One might expect him to heal her and hurry on, but the text says he called her (“who touched me?”) and listened to her story (she “told him the whole truth”). He had time for her, even though he was in the midst of another important task. Having tended to her need, he turns again to the need of Jairus. He is undaunted by word of the girl’s death, but goes to her, takes her by the hand, and calls her to renewed life. In process thought, God gives us aims in every moment that lead us toward the best response possible in light of our context. We can absolutely count on God so to lead us. With such reliance, we can deal with the pressing duties of each day, including the interruptions, with confidence that God continuously guides us in ways that are healing and life-giving.
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