Parishioner's Gospel reflection
Jesus healer
27 June 2021: 13th Sunday of the Year (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Branwen Jones
Mark 5: 21 - 43
To use the terminology of drama, there is a plot and a sub-plot in this passage. There are two miracles of healing, both of them involving female figures, neither of whom are named. The first (the sub-plot) is an older woman and the second (the main plot) is a little girl just twelve years old.
The approach to Jesus for healing is radically different. Jairus, a synagogue official, falls at Jesus’ feet in public and ‘pleaded with him earnestly’ to lay His hands on his desperately sick daughter to save her life. There is a large crowd following Jesus eager to hear His words and witness His marvellous deeds. Naturally this crowd presses round Him as He accompanies Jairus to his home.
At this point the woman, who has ‘suffered from a haemorrhage’ for twelve years, enters the scene. Privately, surreptitiously, she works her way through the throng, convinced that merely connecting with Jesus by touching His clothes she will be healed. She doesn’t want anyone to know of her condition, as it meant that in Jewish law she was ceremonially unclean; shunned by society and barred from worship. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hopes to be unnoticed and approaches Jesus from behind. For an unclean woman to reach out to a rabbi took enormous courage. But she does and she is healed instantly and Jesus knows it as He feels that ‘power had gone out from him’. He turns and scans the crowd.
The terrified and trembling woman has to admit what ailed her and what she has done. There is no remonstrance from Jesus but a gentle kindness and understanding, ‘My daughter, your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free of your complaint.’ She has not made Him unclean by touching Him but quite the opposite; He has made her clean.
The woman’s act of faith contrasts with the attitudes and behaviour of Jairus’ household, who feel it unnecessary to bother Jesus any more as the little girl has died. Undeterred, Jesus reassures Jairus, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith’.
In the house itself people are ‘weeping and wailing unrestrainedly’. Jesus is even laughed at when He says Jairus’ daughter is not dead but asleep. Without more ado Jesus dismisses the noisy mourners and with just the presence of the girl’s parents, Peter, James and John, takes the little girl by the hand and tells her to get up – which she does ‘at once’.
The links between the plot and sub-plot are that healing is immediate for both females; the one has haemorrhaged for 12 years and the other is 12 years old (the older has suffered for the entire lifetime of the younger); and both are called ‘daughter’. But it is Jesus who addresses the older woman as daughter – the only occasion in the Gospels when He speaks in such a manner. What tenderness this displays towards a woman who has no-one to champion her cause as Jairus’ daughter did.
The older woman is Jesus’ daughter – ‘My daughter’. A great privilege to look upon His face and hear those words.
**************************************
4 July 2021: 14th Sunday of the Year (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder (Cjs)
Mark 6:1-6
Time it was for Jesus, to go to His home town.
The disciples went there with Him, they would not let Him down.
Teaching on the Sabbath, in the synagogue He stood.
Hoping that the people, would accept Him as they should.
But they knew Him when a child, and thought that they could tell
that he was not a Rabbi, since He did among them dwell.
“Only in His home, is a Prophet so ignored
by His countrymen who’ll see, scorn upon Him’s poured!”
Though a few by Him were cured, no miracles were seen.
He was shunned by foolish men, to listen none were keen.
The lack of faith He saw, amazed and made Him sad.
We’ll not treat Him so, for His truth we are so glad.
We’ll open up our minds, and listen to His word.
For none will say of us, we don’t act on what we’ve heard. Cjs
Jesus knows us so well! What is it that makes us so unwilling to believe those we know well in our families or circle of friends when discussing spirituality?
Is it true scepticism or is it a form of jealousy...why would God choose them to be His messenger and not us?
Jesus told us we should be like little children, trust more and follow His Word, putting our own prejudices aside.
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Branwen Jones
Mark 5: 21 - 43
To use the terminology of drama, there is a plot and a sub-plot in this passage. There are two miracles of healing, both of them involving female figures, neither of whom are named. The first (the sub-plot) is an older woman and the second (the main plot) is a little girl just twelve years old.
The approach to Jesus for healing is radically different. Jairus, a synagogue official, falls at Jesus’ feet in public and ‘pleaded with him earnestly’ to lay His hands on his desperately sick daughter to save her life. There is a large crowd following Jesus eager to hear His words and witness His marvellous deeds. Naturally this crowd presses round Him as He accompanies Jairus to his home.
At this point the woman, who has ‘suffered from a haemorrhage’ for twelve years, enters the scene. Privately, surreptitiously, she works her way through the throng, convinced that merely connecting with Jesus by touching His clothes she will be healed. She doesn’t want anyone to know of her condition, as it meant that in Jewish law she was ceremonially unclean; shunned by society and barred from worship. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hopes to be unnoticed and approaches Jesus from behind. For an unclean woman to reach out to a rabbi took enormous courage. But she does and she is healed instantly and Jesus knows it as He feels that ‘power had gone out from him’. He turns and scans the crowd.
The terrified and trembling woman has to admit what ailed her and what she has done. There is no remonstrance from Jesus but a gentle kindness and understanding, ‘My daughter, your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free of your complaint.’ She has not made Him unclean by touching Him but quite the opposite; He has made her clean.
The woman’s act of faith contrasts with the attitudes and behaviour of Jairus’ household, who feel it unnecessary to bother Jesus any more as the little girl has died. Undeterred, Jesus reassures Jairus, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith’.
In the house itself people are ‘weeping and wailing unrestrainedly’. Jesus is even laughed at when He says Jairus’ daughter is not dead but asleep. Without more ado Jesus dismisses the noisy mourners and with just the presence of the girl’s parents, Peter, James and John, takes the little girl by the hand and tells her to get up – which she does ‘at once’.
The links between the plot and sub-plot are that healing is immediate for both females; the one has haemorrhaged for 12 years and the other is 12 years old (the older has suffered for the entire lifetime of the younger); and both are called ‘daughter’. But it is Jesus who addresses the older woman as daughter – the only occasion in the Gospels when He speaks in such a manner. What tenderness this displays towards a woman who has no-one to champion her cause as Jairus’ daughter did.
The older woman is Jesus’ daughter – ‘My daughter’. A great privilege to look upon His face and hear those words.
**************************************
4 July 2021: 14th Sunday of the Year (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder (Cjs)
Mark 6:1-6
Time it was for Jesus, to go to His home town.
The disciples went there with Him, they would not let Him down.
Teaching on the Sabbath, in the synagogue He stood.
Hoping that the people, would accept Him as they should.
But they knew Him when a child, and thought that they could tell
that he was not a Rabbi, since He did among them dwell.
“Only in His home, is a Prophet so ignored
by His countrymen who’ll see, scorn upon Him’s poured!”
Though a few by Him were cured, no miracles were seen.
He was shunned by foolish men, to listen none were keen.
The lack of faith He saw, amazed and made Him sad.
We’ll not treat Him so, for His truth we are so glad.
We’ll open up our minds, and listen to His word.
For none will say of us, we don’t act on what we’ve heard. Cjs
Jesus knows us so well! What is it that makes us so unwilling to believe those we know well in our families or circle of friends when discussing spirituality?
Is it true scepticism or is it a form of jealousy...why would God choose them to be His messenger and not us?
Jesus told us we should be like little children, trust more and follow His Word, putting our own prejudices aside.