risk and reward

Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Psalm 30 I will praise you Lord for you have rescued me; 2 corinthians 8:7,9, 13-15; Mark 5:21-43

We encounter two characters in today's gospel both of whom are desperate. They are both up against a wall and time is running out.  

Jairus' daughter is sick and dying.  The woman's health is getting worse and she knows her end is near.  Both of them have no other options, they have no where else to turn, no one else to seek.  In an act of desperation they come to Jesus. 

Faith is awaken in the circumstance of destitution and desperation.  It isn't comfort or wealth or prosperity or success that awakens faith but desperation.   This is important.  Often times we feel the squeeze of destitution or desperation and we blame God.  We point our finger at him, why does he let this happen.  

Did we ever stop to think that perhaps this is a good thing.  It is these circumstances that keep us on our knees, keep us from being self-sufficient, that keep us seeking true strength that comes from Christ. Here we learn faith.

Why did they seek Jesus?

They sought him because they heard about him.  People talked, word traveled, news spread.  They both had heard that people like themselves, destitute and desperate, were helped, healed, and made whole.  Jesus' reputation precedes him because people talk about their faith experience of him.

What do we talk about?  

We talk about many things: the latest hollywood scandal, the latest development in the sports world, the current crisis in countries, the latest tv series of interest.  We talk about all these things, but when do we talk about our faith experience with Jesus.  

When do we stop and evaluate what God is doing in our life?  How can people hear if we do not talk?  How can news spread if our lips are sealed?  If we are not talking, then where is our faith?

We know what the two are looking for but what are they willing to risk?

Jairus, a synagogue official, is seeking Jesus who is notorious for disrupting synagogue services.  Many times throughout the gospels, the synagogue officials pick up stones and want to stone Jesus for disturbing their service, for healing on the Sabbath. 

Here a synagogue official who is charge of keeping order is seeking the one who disturbs that order.  As soon as Jairus bends his knees in homage, he has closed the door on his previous life.  His position of prominence has been terminated.  He would no longer be allowed to come to the synagogue to worship.  He betrays his position, his friends, and all that he had previously known.  As a Jew, no worship means no life. Jairus risk everything.

The woman also risks much.  She is a social misfit, an outcast.  She is "unclean" because of her bleeding.  Thus, she is to live on the outskirts of the community with no interaction.  The mere fact she is in the crowd, means she is going against social norms.  She is risking her life.  This is why she sneaks up behind Jesus so she can make a quick get away without being discovered.  If she is discovered and recognized, she is liable to be stoned herself,  She risks everything.

Jairus and the women risk everything.  They do not cut corners or look for short cuts.  They hold nothing back and as they say in poker, they are all in. 

Are we?

What risks do we take in our life faith?  Perhaps, we are hedging our bets.  Perhaps, we are holding back.  Jesus wants us to be all in. 

If we are holding back, perhaps this is why we have nothing to talk about.

We need to examine our life?  

What areas are stingy on when it comes to living our faith: perhaps we hold back financially and do not tithe; perhaps we hold back sexually and rather than give  all to God we hold back by using artificial contraception, the pill, condoms, or even had a vasectomy.  Where is faith in this?  One does not need faith to use contraception, but one does need faith to practice self-control, abstinence and be open to the gift of children.  This will keep you on your knees and thus truly experience the power of faith.

Perhaps we hold back in our relationships and give in to the pressure and thus have sex before marriage or even move in before marriage.  Again where is the faith risk?  One does not need faith for this but one does need faith to abstain, to wait until married trusting that God will see them through.  Trial marriages never work.

will we risk living our faith forsake all for the encounter with Christ.

The reward is truly great and permanent.  In the healing Jesus shows himself to have power over life and power over death which points to the fullness of life itself.   As we say in the creed, we believe in "the resurrection of the body and life every lasting. Amen"  This is the reward that is worth all the risk.