The Lord walks by—Seventh Sunday of Luke

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.

I have an infirmity which prevents me from being fully part of the community.  And in my infirm state I seek out anything which would bring me wholeness and health.  I know it to be true, I can feel it in my bones, but I am at a loss: how do I regain that which I have lost?  So I spend what I have on anything and everything which claims to help but none of them do—my soul is still infirm.

And the Lord walks by.  He is at another task though I know not what.  He walks by at the behest of someone important, someone significant, someone with standing in the community.  He walks by and in that very moment I come to understand that I only need to reach out and touch the hem, the very edge, of his garment and I too, as the woman with the issue of blood, may be made whole and complete.

“Who was it that touched me?” he said when the woman was healed.  And to everyone else present this was a ridiculous question: Peter replied, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!”  But as the Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the one sheep who is lost (Luke 15:1–7, Matthew 18:12–14), so too does the Lord leave the pressing, the urgent, for her sake.  Jairus’ daughter lay dying—and, to us, it would seem obvious that Christ should rush to her side—but the Lord knows how his Kingdom may be glorified and makes time for the woman to address her and honour her.

And in my poverty, in my lowliness, in my infirmity, even as I am cut off from the community of believers, the Lord walks by me.  And I need only reach out and touch the hem of his garment and he will restore my soul to health.  But I must reach out, I must make the effort.  And yet what do I have to lose?  I have already spent my wealth on failed attempts at healing, I cannot become whole by my own powers, but the Lord walks by and with some effort on my part I may be made whole.  And, what’s more dear brothers and sisters, he walks by before you.  And to all those who desire healing they need only reach out and touch the hem of his garment and their souls will be healed.  The Lord will call them out and restore them to their honoured place in the community.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord is walking by: reach out and touch even the hem of his garment that you may be made whole.  And in that instant your soul, your life, will be healed.

To our loving and healing Lord and God Jesus Christ, crucified and risen for our sakes, be all glory, honour and might, together with his Unoriginate Father and the All-holy, Good and Life-giving Spirit.  Amen.


Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
— Galatians 2:16–20

At that time, there came to Jesus a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!” But Jesus said, “Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
— Luke 8:41–56