Sunday 08 June 2008
- Bible Book:
- Matthew
"Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'. For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners ... Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well". (v.13, 22)
Background
These are not just stories about call and healing, but storiesabout outsiders or community rejects. People who were labelled'unclean' were regarded as not fit to be part of the working orworshipping community. (There were, of course, rituals by whichthey could be regarded as clean again.)
Tax collectors (or customs officers) were despised forcollaborating with the occupying forces - the Romans - and theirregular contact with non-Jews also made them outsiders. The woman'sbleeding meant that anyone who came into contact with her wasdefiled and touching the dead made a person unclean too.
The mention of flute players (part of traditional mourning ritual)stresses to the reader that the girl is dead. The synagogue leaderhas asked Jesus to become unclean for mercy's sake. In doing so heacknowledges Jesus as having greater authority than himself.
The quotation about mercy and sacrifice in verse 13 comes from
The task that Jesus sets the Pharisees could be seen as relating toall the stories. It might even be rephrased as 'look and learn' -see how I relate to people and learn how God wants relationships tobe. Jesus makes it clear that God invites even those rejected bysociety, and expects that of us too.
To Ponder
Imagine yourself as the person having one ofthese encounters with Jesus. How would you feel? What would youwant to say or ask for?
How do you relate these stories to refugees andother outsiders in our community? What can we learn from Jesus'challenging words and actions?