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.
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