Living in the Spirit
June 28, 2015

Scripture Reading: Mark 5:21-43

Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. –Mark 5:25-29

It seems we humans are pretty good at living by faith when there is nothing else left to live by. The old saying holds true; there are no atheists in foxholes. The harder course is living by faith when we put a lot of stock in our own skills. Created in the image of God, we were born with brains and hearts, muscles and senses to use. Called by Christ to be his Body in the world today, we are partners in his kingdom building. Instilled by the Holy Spirit, every action we take comes under the guidance of God’s love. I do not believe faith and works are contradictory but complementary. Jesus said:

‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matthew 11:28-30)

The woman in our scripture today was on a twelve-year quest to be made whole. She was apparently open to trying new things. I love the phrase: She had heard about Jesus. How many people in our world today are longing for wholeness and either have not heard about Jesus, or at least not about his love. Who will tell them about Jesus? Who, in living his love, will expel the negative images of God, people may have experienced? We are the ones called to love like Jesus and when we head out the door to spread the good news we had better put on Jesus’ yoke because we will need it.

Prayer: Holy one hone me as you will use me to spread the good news to anyone who needs to hear it. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.