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'God's Presence'


“God's presence is incarnated in the times and places when and where people are willing to be vulnerable and allow the spirit to work unimpeded.”  ~ Quoted anonymously

While reflecting on this statement, the story of the woman with the hemorrhage kept coming into my mind. It is told in all three of the synoptic gospels, but with a difference: in Matthew the woman does not come forward to admit publicly that she had touched Jesus’ cloak. If we look at the story in Mark and Luke, we see in both accounts that she was unnoticed in the touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, even by the disciplines, and could have just gone away healed and unknown [as she did in Matthew].  But although she was frightened of what Jesus might say to her because, after all, she had made him ritually unclean, she came forwarded and admitted that she was the one who touched him. And THAT act was what made the most difference to her life.

 Yes, she had been healed physically by touching his garment, but now because of her willingness to be vulnerable she was healed psychologically as well, by his acceptance of her as a ‘whole’ human being. After 12 years of being ostracized from society as someone who was unclean, she had worth and value again. She had been vulnerable, had risked much, and God’s presence was there.

We like to think that we have all the answers, know the way, and don't need any help. It is when one comes to the realization that there is nothing they can do that will ‘fix’ a situation, that they need the support of others, can admit it, and take the offered help,  that healing can happen.

Only by opening oneself to others, by risking rejection, by acknowledging a need we cannot fill, is one truly vulnerable. And it is when we are vulnerable, with all our self-imposed barriers down, that the spirit can work within us… and we too can be ‘healed’.


Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 4, 2013 at 4:37 PM

    As you wrote, we have to take a risk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn EdwardDecember 5, 2013 at 10:12 PM

      On reflection, it strikes me that in this society we are more willing to take risks with our money in the stock market than we are with taking the risk that our friends will understand and support us. This says a lot about our ability to be vulnerable.

      Delete
  2. VirginiaDecember 5, 2013 at 9:14 PM

    Gosh, Lynn, when it is you who prepares a polished essay, it is difficult for me to extend it without seeming trite!
    You mentioned risking rejection. In addition, the woman in seeking Jesus was persistent and showed the conviction of her intention to be healed. There was a mutuality with Jesus (felt his power moved) and then he sought out the woman. The story immediately following of the girl that everyone thought was dead is the other side of the coin where Jesus persists. Coming awake seems to be a process of action and response over time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn EdwardDecember 5, 2013 at 10:14 PM

      So is 'coming awake' part of the process of being vulnerable?

      Delete
  3. VirginiaDecember 6, 2013 at 10:39 AM

    Yes, it is, and it is also that being vulnerable after being at rock bottom in some way possibly leads to coming awake. A chicken and egg puzzle, perhaps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn EdwardDecember 6, 2013 at 11:12 AM

      I'm thinking... that in being vulnerable, a person 'comes awake' or 'aware' more each time they allow themselves to be vulnerable to the presence of God in their life.

      Delete
    2. VirginiaDecember 6, 2013 at 5:57 PM

      Yes, indeed, yes!

      Delete

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