The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 5A), June 8, 2008
BCP: Hosea 5:15-6:6; Psalm 50 or 50:7-15; Rom. 4:13-18; Matt. 9:9-13
RCL: Gen. 12:1-9 and Psalm33:1-12; or Hosea 5:15-6:6 and Psalm50:7-15; Rom.
4:13-25; Matt. 9:9-13, 18-26
Many of us have seen it on Christian TV, or at least we’re familiar with some of its numerous variations. Someone in a wheelchair is pushed onto the stage of a huge auditorium. The flowing-locked and sequins-clad evangelist (or prophet or apostle or whatever) orders the person to stand up and then shoves the person backwards into the arms of waiting toughs. And the crowd goes wild, giving clap-offerings to an obedient God. Miracle healing. Right? But it actually makes some of us laugh—particularly the inevitable plea for witnesses to send money.
This isn’t to say, of course, that God doesn’t intervene in human brokenness to make the wounded whole. The biblical witness is full of examples of the Lord taking people’s hardships and suffering and transforming them to life in abundance. Indeed, the overriding theme of the scriptures is God’s leading his people out of fallenness and despair toward the fullness of life in the kingdom. But God’s constant work of healing and restoration is probably much quieter and more subtle than what a lot of people think.
Today’s gospel recounts three separate instances of the Lord touching broken lives and making them whole. First, there’s Matthew the tax collector—a pre-eminent outsider in Israel. This is one who collaborates with the hated Roman occupiers, and he goes so far as to support himself by what most people consider extortion. “As Jesus was walking along, he saw [this] man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him” (Matt. 9:9). The embrace of Christ and his body heals social isolation.
Next, a woman who has been bleeding for years comes and touches the clothing of Jesus. “‘Take heart,’” says the Lord, “‘your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well” (9:22). And trust in the goodness of the Savior does transform suffering into victory.
Finally, a religious leader comes to Jesus to report the death of his young daughter. The leader implores him, “come and lay your hand on her, and she will live” (9:18). Arriving at the place where the girl’s body lies, Jesus directs the mourners, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” Then “he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up” (9:24-25). The risen Lord triumphs over death for all who follow him.
We hardly need to be subjected to constant pleas for money on the airwaves to see God’s healing hand at work. It’s all around us, and even within as the Lord banishes from us loneliness, hardship, and fear of dying.
Look It Up
How does the healing of a man born blind in John 9:1-7 relate to the spiritual wholeness that was promised us in our baptism?
Think About It
In what ways have I been healed by the power of God?
Next Sunday
The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 6A), June 15, 2008
BCP: Exodus 19:2-8a; Psalm 100; Rom. 5:6-11; Matt. 9:35-10:8(9-15)
RCL: Gen. 18:1-15, (21:1-7) and Psalm 116:1, 10-17; or Exodus 19:2-8a and Psalm 100; Rom. 5:1-8; Matt. 9:35-10:8, (9-23)
