All Scriptures are from The Message Version
Today’s Gospel Lectionary scripture tells us of two of the many miracles which were part of Jesus’ ministry during those three short years. These miracles occur as he returns to the “Jewish” side of the Sea of Galilee after what turned out to be an unpopular healing of a possessed man on the “gentile” side. It is an opportunity for us to think about miracles and what role they play in our spiritual lives.
This post is intended to help the reader personalize the words and thoughts in the scriptures. It works well if shared between two or more people as a conversation but there is much to be gained by just considering the questions for yourself. Commentaries for the lectionary scripture can be found on Textweek.com through this link Mark 5:21-43
Miracles
What is a miracle and more importantly what role do they play in your faith life? What questions do you have about miracles? First a brief definition of a miracle from Wikipedia from which I will steal some ideas (you can read the full version here):
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that God may work with the laws of nature to perform what people perceive as miracles. Theologians say that, with divine providence, God regularly works through created nature yet is free to work without, above, or against it as well.
In casual usage, "miracle" is seen as any event that is statistically unlikely but beneficial, (such as surviving a natural disaster), or simply a "wonderful" occurrence, regardless of likelihood, such as a birth. Other miracles might be: survival of a terminal illness, escaping a life threatening situation or 'beating the odds'. Some coincidences may be perceived to be miracles.
• One of the views of a miracle is that it is “an interruption of the laws of nature” – how would you define it, what would be some criteria you would use to acknowledge some event as a miracle?
• What causes a miracle to occur? Do we have a role in making them happen? What causes God to act, to step into a situation?
• Reflect on a miracle story from your life based on the thoughts from the previous question. How do your answers fit that experience? What impact did the miracle have on your faith life? What role do seemingly visible actions by God in real life have in enriching our faith?
• Have you ever prayed for a miracle and it failed to happen – how did it impact your faith – how did you deal with it?
Let’s look at a miracle story from Mark’s gospel and reflect some more on miracles:
Mark 5: 25-29 A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years—a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before—had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, "If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well." The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change and knew her plague was over and done with.
30At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?"
31His disciples said, "What are you talking about? With this crowd pushing and jostling you, you're asking, 'Who touched me?' Dozens have touched you!"
32-33But he went on asking, looking around to see who had done it. The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story.
34Jesus said to her, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague."
• What is the woman’s condition? What has she endured in addition to probably being considered ‘unclean’ by fellow Jews? What has her experience been with the medical profession? Can you relate to her dilemma through any personal experience or the experience of someone you know? How did you feel, was there any sense of desperation or a readiness to try anything to find relief from the situation?
• Why do you think that she felt that just touching his clothes would bring healing? What do you think that her frame of mind was as she approached Jesus? What does the way in which she approached him say about her feelings? How would you have approached him?
• What does this story tell us is our role in initiating a miracle? Do we learn anything about God and healing from the story? What questions and answers about miracles does the story raise for you?
• What do you think about the response Jesus had to being touched? Do you think that anyone who touched his clothes might have been healed? Are there places where miracles seem to occur or persons who have gained a reputation for performing healings? What do you think about them?
• Think of some situations in which someone either asks for or seems to need help or assistance? Are there things that influence you in the manner of your response? Are there certain situations or individuals that you are not inclined to provide help? Do you associate any of your feelings with the manner in which God might respond with miraculous acts? How is God’s response similar and different?
• Were all of the woman’s problems solved? What would this now healed woman who was apparently single and poor face in her life? Might she deal differently with them after this experience?
• What did Jesus say was the reason that the woman was healed? What does he say was the basis for her healing and what does it mean to you?
• Take a few minutes to write down and reflect upon the big and little miracles that are a part of your life.
Closing Litany - Isaiah 35
3-4Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees.
Tell fearful souls, "Courage! Take heart!
God is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs.
He's on his way! He'll save you!"
5-7Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped,
Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song.
Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert.
Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain.
Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly.
Amen
Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures –Mark 6:1-13, 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, Psalm 48, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
