"Lord, Make Us Well" - Matt. 9:18-26 - June 5, 2005
When people are desperately ill they go to the emergency room. They are trained to respond to a variety of problems, everything from heart attacks to broken arms. You never know how long you will have to wait, it depends on others who are sick and the nature of their illness.
In this story we have two people who have desperate needs. On the one hand we have a father whose daughter is gravely ill. On the other hand we have a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years. Since there is no emergency room, each of them seeks out Jesus for help. Consequently the woman his healed and the man’s daughter is able to walk.
But what makes this story special? Is it because there is a happy ending, since both people get the healing they sought after? Or, is there more to it? When we are sick we ask God for help, but we aren’t always healed. Does that mean our faith isn’t strong enough or that God doesn’t care? Both the little girl and the woman are restored to wholeness. The story is clear that two people reached out to Jesus and he responded. In fact, these are just two incidents in a series of encounters where people are healed by Jesus.
I believe, however that Jesus is not acting like an emergency room physician. There is no question that people with illnesses are healed. The larger story has to do with the illness of society. Jesus is criticized by the scribes and the Pharisees for healing the outcasts of society. When he healed the paralytic (vs. 2-8) they accused him of blasphemy. For him to say "Your sins are forgiven," crossed the boundaries of their religious authority. And when he healed the little girl, he had to dismiss the crowds who had already given up on her. In the process they laughed at him.
In other words, healing is taking place but healing has to do with people being included and loved by God. Also, people were questioning the source. It’s almost if they were saying, "How dare you heal the sick." At the time they believed that all illness was caused by sin. To forgive people of their sins or to heal outcasts challenged their cultural norms. Therefore, illness was as much "social" as it was "physical."
On a hot summer day a young couple was traveling in the mountains with their four-year-old daughter. Suddenly, as they drove around a blind curve they collided with a huge truck. The couple was injured along with their daughter, Tzippie. They were immediately taken to the nearest hospital. Tzippie was taken to the children’s ward and her parents were taken to the ICU.
Tzippie was in great pain, mostly due to the fact that she was separated from her parents in a strange place. Martha, a nurse, who was assigned to her understood her fear and insecurity and became devoted to her. After Martha would complete her shift, she would stay with Tzippie during the evening. She would read to her and sing to her.
After months of hospitalization Tzippie and her parents were released from the hospital. It was hard for Martha to say goodbye and equally difficult for Tzippie. For a few months they kept in touch. Eventually the family moved overseas and Martha lost touch with them.
Thirty years passed and Martha was now retired and seriously ill. She was hospitalized with pneumonia. There was a nurse on the floor who noticed that Martha had few visitors. She decided to give Martha some extra care and often spent time after her shift visiting with her. One night while they were chatting Martha asked the nurse what prompted her to become a nurse. She told her that when she was four years old she had been injured in an automobile accident and that a very wonderful nurse took care of her. As she grew older she was determined to become a nurse and give to others what had been given to her.
She had studied abroad and because her husband had taken a new job they moved to the area and she got a nursing position at the hospital. As the nurse told her story, tears flowed from Martha’s eyes. She realized that the nurse who was caring for her was none other than Tzippie, the little girl she had cared for 30 years before. Martha said, "Tzippie, we are together again, but this time you are nursing me." "Is it really you?" she cried out. "I had always hoped we would meet again."
When Martha recovered from her illness, Tzippie insisted that Martha come and live with them. To this day, Martha lives with Tzippie and her family and her children have come to know her as a very special grandmother. (from Small Miracles II, by Ruchoma Shain)
When people reach out to others and build relationships there is no end to the healing process. Jesus demonstrated that it is just as important to embrace those who are outcasts, thereby making them feel included and loved by Unfortunately we live in a society where millions of people do not have access to healthcare let alone friends to comfort them. In that respect we are no different than the society that Jesus lived in. In his day people who were outcasts were considered outside the realm of God’s restoration power. But, these two healing stories clearly illustrate that no one, social outcast or otherwise is beyond the limits of God’s love. God is accessible to all.
So, what do these stories of healing mean for us? First, they remind us that God is accessible to everyone. The daughter of an aristocrat, a leader in the synagogue, is restored to wholeness and an outcast of society, as represented by the woman who was hemorrhaging is also made well. A little four-year old and an elderly woman were also made well. When it comes to health and wholeness God has no boundaries. Everyone can be made well by the power of God. And, the healing power of God can pass through us as well.
Secondly, there was no praying, no ritual, no medicine being practiced. Instead, two people turned to God for help. They reached out to Jesus because they believed that he could help. In the process both took a great risk. The leader of the synagogue risked his stature and position by turning to Jesus. And the woman, who in that society was labeled an outcast, broke through the crowd just to touch Jesus. God wants us to reach out when we hurt because God is waiting to respond.
Third, the healing power of God occurs when people are willing to humble themselves and acknowledge their powerlessness. We have no power to heal, only God can heal. The leader of the synagogue "knelt before him." This was an act of humility and act of submission to a power greater than himself. At the same time, the woman said, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well." She too acknowledged her acceptance of the power of God over the power of humankind.
Jesus saw in these two what the crowd could not see: He saw their faith, their willingness to surrender and their acknowledgment of a powerful God. For us to say to God, "Make us well," requires something more than a simple petition of need. It requires a both a deep faith and the willingness to humble ourselves before a God who is much greater. Restoration belongs to God. God is the great emergency room physician of our lives.
In the story the woman was healed instantly and the little girl had to wait. Sometimes God responds to us immediately and sometimes we have to wait. Ironically it was the leader of the synagogue who had to wait while the woman in the crowd received instant results. This simply illustrates even further that God’s agenda is much greater than our own.
In the past several years I have had a growing problem with Tinnitus, better known as ringing in the ears. I finally consulted a ENT doctor and I was given a hearing test. The final diagnosis showed that I have a significant, high frequency hearing loss in my left ear. I said to the doctor, "I guess it’s hopeless since there is no know cure for Tinnitus." The doctor, however disagreed. He said, "We can help you cope, perhaps even improve your hearing."
For the first time I received some positive feedback about an otherwise hopeless situation. Perhaps I don’t really believe that I can be healed. Perhaps I need to surrender to the power of God and give God the opportunity to help me hear again. I still need more tests and maybe I am fearful of what they will find. Fear is often times the opposite of faith. Sometimes it’s a scary thing to ask for help or seek healing.
Whether or not I can hear again remains to be seen. But, at least I have learned one thing. Unless we are willing to humble ourselves and ask for help, we will never know.
Dr. Keith Wagner
“Traveling With God” – Genesis 12:1-9 – June 8, 2008This is the time of year when many families experience change. Students are graduating and moving on to college or the job market. Some folks are getting married. I have a good friend who recently retired. His lifestyle is changing. Since his wife still works, he gets up early in the morning and fixes her lunch, then, he goes back to bed.
When folks marry or start a new job they often move. We move for other reasons too such s starting a new career. Some move for health reasons. Some move to chase a personal goal or dream. Others move to downsize, like my friend who moved from a house to a condominium. Sometimes people move to run away from a painful experience. Here in Genesis, Abraham moved because he was called by God.
Abraham left his homeland for a land that was totally unknown to him. He responded without hesitation and except for his immediate family he left all of his support network behind. But he went and God promised him that he would be blessed.
I believe that Abraham’s journey was more than just relocating in a different place. It was necessary for him to move in order to grow spiritually. Moving would also be fulfilling and as a result the nation of Israel would be born.
When we need to make a move in our life, something has to die. Like Abraham, we may have to leave the clan in order to create new beginnings. Moving away from our roots is not easy. On the other hand, growth and fulfillment cannot be realized unless we are willing to leave something behind. I believe that our lives are enhanced when we are able to move on and leave something behind. Perhaps the reason so many people cannot find fulfillment is that they are trying to take everything with them.
Recently I was standing in line at the airport in Baltimore, Maryland. The couple ahead of me was having a rather heated conversation. I don’t know where they were headed but they certainly seemed anxious. At one point the woman said to her significant other, “Are you sure you have all seven bags?” Wherever they were headed they were obviously taking excessive baggage. Like Abraham, traveling with God means we have to leave something behind.
Luciano Pavarotti was an Italian tenor, who crossed over into popular music and became one of the world's most famous vocal performers. He was one of The Three Tenors and was well known for his televised concerts and media appearances. He was born in Modena to the family of a baker. When Luciano Pavarotti was a boy, his grandmother often put him on her lap and said, “You’re going to be great, you’ll see.” His grandmother, however, had dreams of Luciano becoming a banker. Pavarotti had a dream of being a professional football goalkeeper. Instead, at the urging of his mother, Pavarotti became a school teacher. He taught elementary school for awhile and yet singing infrequently at special events. His father became the one who goaded him into developing his voice, chiding him for singing below his potential.
Finally at age twenty-two, Pavarotti stopped teaching to sell insurance. He continued to look for something stable on which he could rely financially in case he couldn’t make it in the music world. The insurance business allowed him time to take voice lessons, and the rest is history. The opera star once said, “Studying voice was the turning point of my life. It’s a mistake to take the safe path in life.” Pavarotti made some key moves in his life and consequently he became a blessing to millions of people.
Few people know that Pavarotti left his dream of playing professional football to became a professional singer. Ironically, his last performance was at the Winter Olympics in 2004 at Turin. But had he not heeded his father’s advice, he may never have become an opera star.
We never know where our lives are going to go. One thing is sure. If we stand still and resist the call we may never discover who we really are. God chose Abraham because of his faithfulness and leadership abilities. He must have been a person of great courage since he traveled such a great distance. The distance from Ur to Canaan is about 1,000 miles. He reached the promised land but he never had the opportunity to make it home. Instead he was diverted to Egypt. Abraham died having never settled in the land of promise. Nevertheless, because of his faithfulness he is credited with being the Father of Israel.
No doubt, Abraham grew in spirit as he made his journey. Along the way he faced many obstacles and overwhelming odds. But he kept moving forward. Most importantly his faithfulness resulted in a blessing to those he led and for those who came after him.
Abraham was blessed, not because he obeyed God and journeyed to the promised land but because he was a blessing to others. Pavarotti was also a blessing to others, not only because of his singing but because of his works of charity. Pavarotti annually hosted the "Pavarotti and Friends" charity concerts in his home town of Modena in Italy, joining with singers from all parts of the music industry, including Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sting, Bono, Sheryl Crow and Jon Bon Jovi, to raise money for several UN causes. Concerts were held for War Child, and victims of war and civil unrest in Bosnia, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Iraq.
After the war in Bosnia, Pavarotti financed and established the Pavarotti Music Center in the southern city of Mostar to offer Bosnia's artists the opportunity to develop their skills. He performed at benefit concerts to raise money for victims of tragedies such as the Spitak earthquake that killed 25,000 people in northern Armenia in December 1988. He was a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales. They raised money for the elimination of land mines worldwide. In 1998, he was appointed the United Nation's Messenger of Peace, using his fame to raise awareness of UN issues, including the Millennium Development Goals, HIV/AIDS, child rights, urban slums and poverty. The moves Pavarotti made resulted in many blessings for the people of God’s world.
Abraham was promised by God that he would be blessed. That promise however was in the future. Consequently he had to trust that God would provide for him along his journey. Incidentally Abraham was 75 years old when he began his journey, a journey that would last another 100 years. In addition, his wife, Sarah, was barren. How could he possibly be promised descendents when his wife could not give birth? We have no account that Abraham questioned God as to how that might be possible. He moved, not knowing how God would fulfill God’s promise. When we travel with God, we go, and let God take care of the details.
God calls everyone to ministry, not just ministers. Perhaps you have felt the call to be a volunteer in some local program or event. It seems that whenever we are called we are an unlikely candidate. When we do finally say “yes” and participate in a program that helps others we end up being blessed by the experience. The call can come at anytime. It can come whenever there is tension, conflict, unfairness, apathy, ignorance, boredom or anxiety.
Rick Palieri tells the story about the time he was returning home to Vermont from Bellingham Washington. When he arrived at the airport he noticed there was a big problem. All the flights were delayed. People were stressed out, anxiously trying to find alternative flights. The ticket agent suggested that a bus could take the stranded travelers to Seattle, about an hour a half away where they could make connecting flights. Finally, a bus pulled up and as Rick boarded the bus the driver said, “They just pulled me out of bed after an all-night shift, and they expect me to perform a miracle by getting you to Seattle to catch your flight. Good luck!” Needless to day everyone was in a bad mood and the driver’s attitude didn’t help.
Rick was carrying a banjo that he had slung on his shoulder. “Are you going to play that thing?” the driver asked. “I really hadn’t planned on it,” Rick responded. “I was only kidding,” the driver said. But Rick started thinking about it and so he took out his banjo and started playing. The tension in the bus was great but when Rick started playing his banjo, some people started humming along. Before long, the whole busload of people started singing. “Do you know, You are my Sunshine?” someone asked. Pretty soon others made similar requests. As the bus continued its journey to Seattle people sang, exchanged photos of their summer vacations and grandchildren and they also shared what food they had on board.
The bus arrived safely at the Seattle Airport with time to spare for those making connecting flights. Everyone clapped their hands and someone shouted, “We wouldn’t have made it without the banjo player.” As Rick was leaving the bus the driver said, “This was the best ride that I ever had, thanks for your music.” While the busload of people stood in line to make their connecting flights they exchanged addresses and phone numbers. A couple of weeks after Rick returned home he received all kinds of letters and postcards from his new friends. A little music turned a tense situation into a magical moment. (from Chicken Soup for the Soul; Stories for a Better World)
Dr. Keith Wagner