Woman with a Hemorrhage

As preached by Sister Cecelia

Holy Wisdom Church

Ezekiel  18:21-23,23-30,  Hebrews 3:7-16,  Mark 5:24b-34

A friend recently sent us photos of some of her sheep. One had just given birth and the little lamb is perched on its mother’s body -being taken care of. Another was a little lamb obviously getting some special human attention by being inside the house. Perhaps it was sick or the mother would not nurse it and had to be hand fed. I like to think the lamb was being cared for as Jesus took care of the woman who had suffered from, so far, an incurable hemorrhage for 12 long years.

Custom dictated that for twelve years this woman had not been allowed to mix with others. Never the less, she boldly took a chance that no one would notice her. Having heard of all the healing that Jesus had already done, she believed she would be cured if only she could touch the fringe of his cloak.

 Jesus felt his healing go out from him and turned to look for the one receiving it. Upon gazing at the woman Jesus understood the courage and faith of the woman.  He wanted us to know what he valued in her and by extension, from us. That is; faith in Jesus and his love for each of us.

With that single action of healing Jesus helps her to reenter ordinary daily life, to be fully integrated into her community. Having no name, she represents all of us, especially if we feel isolated, exhausted or on the brink of despair. Jesus’ cure restored a woman to her full dignity to live life to the full as God’s child and our sister.

We are created in the dynamic image of God. To be made in the image of God is to be life-giving and imaginative. All of us are gifted with creative potential. We create connection and dialogue among people; we create art, music, prose, poetry; we create love and support for our families and communities. Our gifts, whatever they may be, are given to create a more life-giving world.

Or we can create discord depending what we put our attention on.

Faith in Jesus’ love for us seems to be what Jesus wants from us. Are we creative in learning how we can increase our faith? 

Are we inclined to be attentive to God’s presence in everything we do?

Do we have a special practice during Lent that might help to remember God is with us?

If fasting is one of your practices, do you think of God being with you when you experience hunger or not indulging in a special treat?  Thank God for the opportunity to be able to fast because you want to and not because you think you have to.

Whether you fast or not, faith in Jesus calls us to remember that God is within us. That is the important thing. It is an unfathomable mystery that God is within and without, everywhere and in all things. A prayer attributed to Saint Patrick whose feast day is tomorrow could be a mantra of sorts that could help us be mindful of our God as we journey through Lent toward the great Paschal Mystery.

• "Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me..." 
• "Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me, shield in the strife" 
• "Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising, light of my life"

 

Glory be to Jesus Christ!

Now and forever!

Sermon 205 March 9, 2025: Jr 9:1-8, 22-23; Heb 3:7-14, 5:12-13; Mt 4:1-11 “Test"

 As preached by Brother Luke
Holy Wisdom Church

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

 

       As the first week of Lent comes to an end, we are presented with the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness. Sometimes we might feel as if we are always living in the wilderness. And the devil is lurking everywhere. The gospel passage in its English translation often uses the word temptation and test interchangeably since the Greek word peirazo, can be used for either meaning. Even though our images of temptations and tests differ, either way, temptations can often be tests. 

       I don't know how many of you remember the days when seatbelts for cars were being introduced and auto manufacturers ran TV ads showing cars being crashed into walls to demonstrate how the seatbelts could save lives. Of course, people weren't convinced, so states began passing laws requiring drivers to use seatbelts and fining drivers who were caught not wearing their seatbelts. When air bags were introduced the same process was repeated. The auto makers tested seatbelts and airbags and other equipment because they wanted to be sure that the equipment would stand up to the road challenges cars would confront.

       So, Jesus, after his baptism, heads off to the desert, led by the spirit, where Satan puts him to the test. As we heard, the devil takes three different approaches to seduce Jesus from his path. Change a stone into bread, test whether or not God is really supporting him, worship the devil and gain power over all nations of the world. These tests all fail to derail Jesus from his mission. Now, how does this apply to us? Life is constantly confronting us with tests. And the three tests Jesus faced can be viewed as symbols of tests we all face.

       Changing a stone into bread might be a metaphor for our desperate efforts to try to change our reality into something other than what it really is. But we cannot live a false reality without suffering from psychological, emotional and spiritual anxiety. We need to face our true reality and understand that the ultimate change we need to make in our lives comes from listening to the word of God and putting it into practice. And the word of God comes to us in many forms in addition to scripture, and often connected with our conscience. When these messages come we need to face them and accept their truth and not try to avoid them.

       The second test is about expecting God to fix everything for us. If this is a perfect world, then what good is God if he cannot fix everything? But this approach to God puts our relationship with God backwards. It says that God exists to do things for us as if God is our servant. We decide what we need and let God know. When in reality our task is to be open to the spirit and will of God. Or as Jesus says, ours is not to put God to the test, but to do the will of God.

       The third test is about power and control. Our liturgical prayers often warn us about the danger in our desire to control everyone and everything. Our culture never tires of placing before us enticing illusions about exceptional opportunities to control outcomes. The simplest example fits into a marketing strategy that says if you buy X it will enable you will get Y, which could be health, wealth, power, fame, connections, and more. For those folks who delight in warning us about the slippery slope, this ranks as one of the slipperiest. Jesus replies: worship the Lord your God and he alone. But instead, we worship so many other things, so many other gods.

       This gospel story is also found in a brief passage in Mark and in an expanded passage in Luke. The end of Luke's passage offers us a telling reminder about the tests of life. Luke says [LK 4:13] "Satan left him for a while." Ah yes, there will be more tests in Jesus' future. And likewise for us. We pass a test and we think we are home free. But just around the corner is another test. Did the first test help us to better meet the next one? This Lenten passage is our training ground for the tests of life. It is to help us learn how to face, process and respond to the challenges of life. The practices and exercises of this period are not ends in themselves, but rather opportunities for us to cultivate the inner strength to weather the inevitable storms of life. Let us make the best use of this opportunity.

 

Glory be to Jesus Christ!