Luke 8:46–48

Luke 8:46-48 

English Standard Version 

  I wonder how this story might've been different if Jesus hadn't stopped.  Imagine that the woman was healed and Jesus never said anything.  She certainly wouldn't have become the center of attention, which she might have preferred, but perhaps she wouldn't have realized that Jesus was using the physical healing to restore her to community.  He speaks to her with a tenderness that she might not have heard for years. She calls her daughter, for her healing is physical and spiritual -- she once more is not isolated, but is a full member of society -- what a tremendous gift that Jesus has given her.  The whole community sees this and can celebrate with her.  She can truly go in peace.  

  What kind of peace is your soul longing for?  How can Jesus give us back to a community, restoring relationships that have been broken for any number of reasons?  Jesus heals the vertical and horizontal rifts in our society, and we are not the same after an encounter with the divine.  When we pray for healing, for our own and for others, may we look for ways that God is changing the way we interact with one another while we anticipate physical healing as well.

Out of Control Cars and the Gospel

Luke 8:43–45

Luke 8:43-45 

English Standard Version 

  Yesterday, we had a man who had prospered in society throwing himself down before Jesus.  Here we have a woman who is on the other end of the societal spectrum, and she is in the same place, throwing herself before Jesus.  

  What's amazing to me is that Jesus notices.  We so often feel so insignificant, and we wonder if God would care about us... but Jesus knows us and knows our needs and attends to us, even in the midst of the chaotic busy-ness of life.  I cannot promise you that Jesus will fix everything about you in a moment like this... but Jesus does promise that he will be with us, that he loves us, and that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear.  

  The disciples wondered if Jesus could notice such things, given the crowds.  But the Good Shepherd knows his flock, and pursues every lost sheep with love and patience.

Ephesians 3:1-13 Sermon (February 15, 2026)