April 2, 2010 | Can We Be the Touch of Jesus? Mark 5:21-43In Mark 5:21-43, the Gospel writer weaves together two marvelous stories about the healing touch of Jesus. The reader is first alerted to the plight of a young girl, the daughter of the leader of the local Synagogue, who is dying. Her father pleads with Jesus to come and heal her. Jesus does not hesitate and quickly complies with the request. Along the way, the crowd presses in on Jesus, slowing him down. A woman, who has been hemorrhaging for twelve years presses in closer and closer. She believes with all her heart and mind that if she can just touch Jesus’ tunic, she will be healed. She manages to touch the hem and she is healed. Even with the crowd pressing around him, Jesus notices the touch and he stops to visit with her. In the meantime, messengers from the home of the leader of the Synagogue come to report that Jesus is too late -- that the young girl has died. Jesus rushes off to the home, touches her and brings her back to life. Without question, Christians are called to be the very presence of Jesus in the world. But, not many of us can simply touch someone and heal them. Nonetheless, I believe we have a great opportunity to be the “touch of Jesus” and to bring people to those who can help them heal by supporting legislation for comprehensive health care reform. An estimated 45 million people in the United States go without health care because they cannot afford the cost of health care insurance. Hundreds of thousands more do have health care insurance, but don’t go to the doctor unless it’s an emergency because they cannot afford the co-pays and deductibles. I recently me a young woman who is excited about going back to work. She’s a single mom with four kids and her job will help tremendously. However, it’s one of those “temporary” jobs meaning that she can work there for years and years, but she won’t be entitled to benefits because the company doesn’t offer benefits to temporary employees. When she starts back to work, she’s going to lose her Medicaid coverage, but won’t make enough to buy health care insurance and provide for her children. As my friend Jennifer Piat would say, “That’s just messed up.” |
