A sermon for June 30, 2024, 6th Sunday after Pentecost, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – Buffalo, NY .
Video: To watch the sermon at the 10:30am service, click here (video starts with the Gospel reading).
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Each of us experiences how powerful touch can be. We also know the impact of the absence of touch.
While the power of touch can be abused, healthy and life-giving touch can be beautiful and familiar. It can be show affection. Touch can be healing and comforting.
We’ve learned a few things about touch having gone through a global pandemic. Especially early on when we didn’t know much about COVID, any kind of touch … any kind of physical contact … simply being around other people … was not considered safe or wise.
The Old Testament gives us some terminology around when to touch and when not to touch: clean and un-clean.
These two words … statuses really … dictated what a person could and could not do, AND their relationship with the community around them.
It’s very much the idea that “a bad apple spoils the bunch.”
Can you see how being considered UNCLEAN could result in isolation from the community?
The gospel reading this morning lifts up the role of touch in Jesus’ ministry with a story within a story.
First, we meet Jairus, a leader in the community who is a DESPERATE and worried parent – so much so that he came to Jesus and fell at His feet.
He begged Jesus … “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her (touch her), so that she may be made well and live” (Mk 5:23).
I’m sure Jairus was overjoyed when Jesus went with him … but … all of the sudden … Jesus stopped … for what?
An “unclean” WOMAN touched Jesus.
Can you just imagine what might have been going through Jairus’ mind? Any delay could result in his daughter’s death!
This unnamed woman had been hemorrhaging for 12 years! And, according to the book of Leviticus, she was “unclean” which meant that any people she touched would be made unclean … what she touched, sat and laid upon would be unclean.
Like Jairus, she was DESPERATE!
She had been to doctors, but nothing helped (Mk 5:26).
In her desperation, she believed that all she had to do was touch Jesus’ clothing and she would be healed.
With her heart pounding in her chest … you know the kind of pounding … the kind where you can hear and feel it in your ears.
She knew the risks – to her, the crowd, Jesus.
She couldn’t get through the crowd to Jesus without touching others on the way.
According to the Law, touching Jesus would make HIM unclean.
Soon, her opportunity would pass so she assumed the risk and began to move toward Jesus.
Jesus felt the power flow through him. He could have been angry with her … offended … worried about whether He would become unclean – instead He addressed her not as one banned and socially outcast, but as one of His family – with genuine affection …
“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease” (Mk 5:34).
Jesus didn’t have to turn around and address her, but He chose to.
So, not only was she physically healed, she was also socially healed … she was restored to community, and the direction of her life was forever changed.
Jesus went on from there to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead as He took the girl by the hand (He touched her) and told her “Little girl, get up!”
Do you hear the power and the lifting up of Jesus’ touch?
Do you hear the NEW LIFE that Jesus offered them both?
Both longed for Jesus’ touch.
Both waited for the touch of Jesus.
Notice that, where others say don’t touch … stay away … protect yourself … Jesus touches.
Jesus’ touch is the opposite of “a bad apple spoils the bunch.”
He does not become or take on what is “unclean,” anxious, fearful … He spreads wholeness.
Are there places in your life where are you DESPARATE for healing, restoration, direction, or an answer to something weighing on your heart?
Jesus is not afraid of standing in the middle of life with you.
It is in those moments that Jesus’ peace, grace, and wholeness lift us up and bring us to NEW LIFE … and a future with hope.
In the name of Jesus.
Amen!
Epicurious Lutheran 