A Gospel Gleaning -- Mark 5:21-43

"Who touched me?" This is the question Jesus asks his disciples.  A woman with a debilitating illness pressed her way close enough to Jesus to brush her hand against the border of his garment. In that instant, something happens and she experiences healing.

"With the size of the crowd pressing on you, how can you ask such a question?" This is the disciples' reply. Something has happened right under their noses, and they are completely oblivious. 

And maybe we are as well.

I like to think we do our best to follow the way of Jesus. As modern-day disciples, perhaps we aren't jostled by crowds, but we are overwhelmed with the pace of our lives. In this story, I get the sense that Jesus' disciples were hurrying him along -- attempting to get him to his next destination where he was urgently needed. They had no time to waste!

We move a bit like that don't we? Intent upon our priorities and goals we press ahead with little regard to the needs and concerns that are right in front of us. With so much pressing in on us, we forget that Christians tell time differently. Like Peter, James, John and the rest, we need periodic reminders that the Good News we have to bring is healing and wholeness -- the salvation of God.  

Perhaps if we slowed down, we'd see God at work in the world all around us. Perhaps we would feel the fire of the Spirit or the compassion of Jesus or the love of God. Perhaps our eyes would be opened to all that is possible in God's Kingdom. 

Then again, perhaps that would just scare the hell out of us. 

And perhaps that wouldn't be a bad thing either.