This week's gospel provides a look at God in man made manifest as Jesus crosses barriers to bring healing, salvation and life to the lost, the hopeless, and the dead. As Jesus heals the woman who had been bleeding for years, and raise up a young girl who was dead - allowing the "unclean" to touch him while he touches the "unclean," also provides us insight into the faith Jesus invokes in us.
This lesson follows lessons the last two weeks when God shows us what can be done with faith the size of a mustard seed, and inspiring a young shepherd boy to defeat the power of the giant Goliath. God moves, not only in mysterious ways, but shows up in the most unexpected places.
Consider the Rev. Kathryn Matthews' "Brushing Up Against Grace," for other themes such as "The
point between faith and fear, Courage to love in spite of risk, Making
room on the agenda for even more compassion, Reaching down to lift up,
The possibility within the quiet, and Trust and openness.
What does it take to be open for healing... for grace?
This Sunday is Father's Day! As a father, I know what a blessing that is, and it helps me understand, appreciate and honor my father. It has taken on a whole other dimension as I see what a wonderful father my oldest son is.
Today our scripture teaches us a lot about what it is to be a father - to be a comfort and a strength in the face of fear, having patience and wisdom to help a small child grow with confidence and become something great in a world of violence, destruction, hate and storms. Reflect on the story of David and Goliath and think about the small and the great, and the source of his strength and confidence. Consider the Shalom - Peace, be still! - of the one who calms the storms.
For further reflection see Robert Cornwall's " Sleeping through the Storm," Steve Goodier's "What I Pray For," and Professor Alyce M. MacKenzie's Father's Day article related to last week's parable of the mustard seed, "What Every Father Should Know: Reflection on the Seed Parables in Mark 4:26-34.
I titled this week's lesson "Isn't it just like God to do the unexpected?" because it seems to fit the scripture lessons from 1 Samuel, who, to the surprise of everyone, including Samuel, anoints the young shepherd boy, David, to be the second king of Israel, and Jesus' parable in the fourth chapter of Mark, about the mustard seed.
In "Just a kid. Just a seed. Just a church," Joel Shuman tells us, small and insignificant as we may think we are, God has us just where he wants us. If we have hope, faith, patience, and a willingness to see the good of God in others, our work, and in our play, great and wonderful things will be done in the furtherance of God's kingdom - not always what we think or expect, but what God expects and does - through and with us. Thanks be to God! See also, Sister Kym Harris' "Exposition" and "Reflection" on this week's lesson.
Our Scripture this week speaks of brokenness - a break from God due to pride, then shame; from desire to possess what the Other has, to losing paradise; from wanting our own kings and kingdoms to exile; even brokenness from family and friends. But we rejoice in God our king, our strength, our hope and redeemer, who walks with us on our journey, even to the cross, and lifts us up in loving arms, as if on wings of eagles - arms spread wide open, on the cross.
How have we experienced brokenness? What are the causes? What is the way to healing? See The Rev. Rick Morley's "Genesis 3:8-15 - broken," and "God in brokenness," by The Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson.
When Jesus' mother and brothers come to take him away, why do they do so? Why did Jesus ask "who are my brothers and sisters?" What was his reply? How does this apply to us with our family? Who is our family? See The Rev. Sharron Blezard's "One Big Hopeful Family."
