Message from the Chaplain

Today’s entry is brought to you by the word ‘thankfulness’.

Jesus asked; “Who touched me?”…. The woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before Jesus 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. (Mark 5: 33-34)

Jesus was on his way to Jairus’ home. Along the way he met a woman who had been issuing blood for 12 years. Being a woman it was unacceptable to approach a man who was not a relative. Being ritually unclean, she risked making all who touched her also ritually unclean. Setting out to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment required courage and conviction. Jesus knew this, and far from wanting to confront or condemn her, he looked her in the eyes and said; “go in peace, and be healed”.

I think Jesus simply wanted to look into her eyes. Jesus wanted to see a face full of hope and faith. I think he needed to be affirmed in his work. Immediately prior to this narrative, Jesus was on a boat with his disciples who were afraid of drowning. He said to them; “where is your faith?” Here we encounter faith.

Women in the time of Jesus got a raw deal … and in fact, times haven’t changed all that much. I’m saddened that the woman in this story wasn’t named. Not unlike the Syro-Phoenician woman at the well (Mark 7), or the woman who anointed Jesus at the house of Simon (Mark 14), or the widow of Nain whose faith resulted in Jesus’ restoring her son from death (Luke 7).

Unnamed women. Some of the majesty of their deeds are dimmed and diluted by men who couldn’t be bothered to write their names in the gospel narratives. These were women praised by Jesus, women held up as an example for others to follow and aspire to, women to be remembered and to be honoured.

We should be thankful for the women in our lives. And thankful for the efforts of all who continue to strive for equality between the genders.

Jesus liked the moment he shared with the woman. In her, Jesus saw true faith. He met a women who was prepared to take the risk to put her whole trust in him. It is my imagining that Jesus saw the God-light burning within her. “Live well, live blessed,” were his words of praise and encouragement.

At the time when the woman touched Jesus’ garment, Jesus was on his way to Jarius’ house to heal his daughter (a girl of no name). After speaking with the woman who was healed, Jesus hears a messenger bearing the news that Jairus’s daughter has sadly died. Jesus interrupts the shock and grief of Jarius to say; ‘Don’t be afraid. Have faith.’ I like to think that Jesus’ hope was renewed by the faith of the un-named woman. Jesus must have been thankful.

Being thankful requires interaction, response and a willingness to see the goodness in others like Jesus did in what’s-her-name, that woman from Mark 5. It is good to imitate the woman who is thankful for healing and blessing, it is good to imitate Jesus in receiving gratitude, it is good to let others know that we are thankful for their very being in our lives.

Phil Worrad

Chaplain