June 28, 2009 Sermon
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Proper 8 - B 2009
June 28, 2009 Allan Conkling
These days when I read from the Bible I find it not to be a book of answers, rather a book of questions. The Bible is a book of contrasts, a tapestry of complex patterns and fabrics all woven together to produce, not an operator's manual or how to fix-it book, but a story, a love story, between God and God's people.
Take this morning’s Gospel: This is a passage full of contrasts and opposites: death and life; sickness and health, despair and hope; distress and calmness. All throughout this passage the central message of our Christian faith rings clear: that in Jesus Christ, death is not the final reality. This story of the raising of Jairus' daughter is a finely crafted tapestry that stands as a parable of the Kingdom of God--a window to a greater reality.
To go back for a moment in time to the world of Jesus, we know that the death of a child was an unfortunate but all too regular occurrence. So frequent was death in infancy that a baby was not even given a name until a week after being born. Childhood illness and disease were attributed to the working of the gods or to evil spirits, usually as a punishment to the parents. Death of a child meant loss of economic stability, the loss of a future and its blessings. In his desperation the father, the president of the synagogue--a very religious man--turned to a faith healer for help. "Come lay your hands on her so that she may be made well and live." He was desperate.
Throughout the Gospel of Mark, the followers of Jesus were people were often portrayed unflatteringly not as pious or spiritual, but as thick headed, slow to see, and slow to respond. Miracles then were a way to show that even the forces of nature listened and obeyed Jesus. Here, a high level Jewish official bends his will to Jesus--a miracle in itself--and the forces of death surrendered. The message was simple: Trust in this one, believe him, and you too can be saved, healed, restored and live.
Life today is so much more complex. We know there are no easy answers. As long as I have been in the ministry I have never heard from any credible source, of anyone being brought back from death in this way. I know that God does marvelous things, and does not bring evil upon people, but despite all the advances in medicine death is still a fact of life. I often pray for miracles and divine intervention, and claim healing when it occurs, yet, if we are honest we know that true miracles don't come by God magically granting a wish, but by conforming and centering our lives outside of ourselves.
Every week we pray "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." What we discover is not that we are rescued from life's problems, but rather that we are given new skills and resources to cope with life here and now. Through it all God is with us always even when it doesn't always feel like it. In the passage, Jesus went into the house and proclaimed that the child was not dead but sleeping, and people laughed at him. How often do we miss the presence of Christ?
No, the Bible doesn't give us easy answers to the complexities of life. It presents us with more questions. That is why I find support and fellowship here with my church family. Together we walk on this journey of faith.
In our story, Jesus called the little girl from the sleep of death. I believe that in a similar way he calls us from our spiritual slumber: "Little girl, arise!" Arise young person. Arise woman, man and take my hand. Stand up Grandpa and live! Christ quiets the mourners with blessed assurance. He touches us with forgiveness. He takes our grief, our pain and covers them with the balm of abundant mercy. Christ feeds us with the spiritual food of his body and blood. No one is too far beyond the embrace of God. No one is outside.
This gift we possess is found in the words of Paul, in what he calls the "generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ":
"That though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich."
That is, by his self-emptying we should experience the fullness of believing, despite the frailties and brokenness of life.
As we come before him in our prayers, kneeling, extending our hands to receive the Sacrament, Christ extends his hand of grace. With the simpleness of the command, "Talitha cum; Get up my child, arise" we receive life in his name.
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Revised: 07/07/09