Sunday 11 June 2023

Psalm 50

Background

These are not just stories about calling and healing, but stories about outsiders or community rejects. People who were labelled 'unclean' were regarded as not fit to be part of the working or worshipping community. (There were, of course, rituals by which they could be regarded as clean again.)

Tax collectors (or customs officers) were despised for collaborating with the occupying forces – the Romans – and their regular contact with non-Jews also made them outsiders. The woman's bleeding meant that anyone who came into contact with her was defiled 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 leader has asked Jesus to become unclean for mercy's sake. In doing so he acknowledges Jesus as having greater authority than himself.

The quotation about mercy and sacrifice in verse 13 comes from Hosea 6:6, where "steadfast love" is used instead of "mercy". It can also be translated as 'kindness' (being used to try and describe God's love and mercy for us).

The task that Jesus sets the Pharisees could be seen as relating to all the stories. It might even be rephrased as 'look and learn' – see how I relate to people and learn how God wants relationships to be. Jesus makes it clear that God invites even those rejected by society, and expects us to do so too.

To Ponder:

• Imagine yourself as the person having one of these encounters with Jesus. How would you feel? What would you want to say or ask for?
•  Do you relate these stories to refugees and other outsiders in our community? What can we learn from Jesus' challenging words and actions?

Prayer 

Today on Methodist Homes Sunday we thank you God for our communities and care for the elderly, and pray for all outsiders and those rejected by society. 

Updated from 2008.