Daily Gospel Reflection for February 4, 2014

Today's Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

Today’s gospel is familiar to most of us: the healing of Jairus’s daughter as well as the woman who suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve long years. As Jesus made His way to the house of Jairus, people pressed in on Him from every side, but only one woman touched Christ, drawing healing power from Him. This woman was desperate to be healed. I don’t think she was the only one who believed that Jesus was capable of healing her. I mean, the entire crowd was excited, following Him, hoping to witness yet another miracle at Jairus’s house. No it wasn’t simply faith that drew healing power from Christ, it was the woman’s desperation.

Desperation is the key to change, to opening our hearts to receive anything from God. Only when I am desperate, only when I am fed up with myself as I continue to suffer day after day without changing wounded emotions, a sick body, and a tired mind, only then am I really willing to receive healing. It seems that I first must hit bottom, before I will to let go of the familiar, even when the familiar is sickness.

To change and accept healing love means tha tI must let go of control, surrender and trust in God. Surrendering goes against every cell in my body because in my pride. I like to be in control. I like to things in my own strength. When I am desperate enough, I will humbly ask God to transform me in His power.

Jesus had the power to heal everyone who touched Him that day but only one person touched Him with that rare combination of faith and open hearted longing and desperation. Only one person was open  and humble enough to receive a flow of healing power from Christ.

Ponder:

Are you desperate enough yet to surrender control to your Saviour, beginning your own experience of modern day miracles in your life?

Pray:

Lord, you know my heart, my fears, my rigidty, my sin. In Your mercy, melt my resistance and place a desperate hunger for more of your  healing love with in me.

Copyright 2014 Melanie Jean Juneau