Universal Healing
Verna Dozier in Sojourners, June 1994, said:

Jesus responds equally to calls from the high and from the lowly. His healing ministry reaches out beyond the ancient taboos of a religious system. He knows who he is and what he can do and knows when he has accomplished the task. His very being heals. He incarnates the ritual.

This was one of her insights into today's Gospel lesson where two people sought- and received healing. One was the daughter of the Synagogue leader, Jairus. Here was a name, a person with some responsibility and a place in the community. Jairus was a somebody and, by connection, so was his daughter. Jesus didn't mind doing this for Jairus.

But as they travel an unnamed, person-in-the-crowd came up from behind Jesus and touched his cloak. A simple rustle of the garment. not much more than might have happened hundreds of times as they walked up the street. But this one was different. She was in need. It wasn't a touch of some fan-crazed groupie or just someone trying to get close to someone famous. There was need in that touch. Jesus knew it immediately. He looked but she was gone. He kept looking so that finally the woman, no doubt in fear, admits what she did.

He probably smiled at her and maybe even nodded his head in a knowing way. "Your faith has made you well. Go in peace a free woman."

He then continues on his way to finish the task of healing Jairus' daughter.

Two women. One a child. The other an unclean (she was bleeding!) touch-in-the-crowd. The daughter of someone special. And one who was just someone.

As Dozier said- the high and the lowly. He goes beyond ritual. He walks past the taboos. He lives what he preaches- and preaches what he lives. He becomes the incarnation of both as he is the incarnation of God.

Amen and thanks be to God.