Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Proper 23: Year 2
AM Psalms 5 and 6; PM Psalms 10 and 11; Jonah 1:1to17; Acts 26:24to27:8; Luke 8:40to56
“But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.” (Luke 8:46)
In my Thursday morning Cursillo Reunion Group the gathered group is well aware that I, John, am not a fan of “unexpected opportunities.” During our session the question always comes up, “With what unexpected opportunities has the Lord accomplished through you…” I am a strong “J” on the Myers Briggs personality tests. While this “J” stands for judgment it more readily relates to the need to know outcomes. I am so “off the chart” in this category that I will wait until someone has seen a movie that I want to see and then ask them to tell me about it in detail. If pushed, I would probably even pay for them to see the movie so that they can tell me about it. I know this is bad but I really don’t like surprises. And I don’t think “opportunity” and “unexpected” should be used in the same sentence,, especially with “opportunity” used as an adjective for “opportunity.”
Having said all this, I now learn from our Lord Jesus as he was in rout to do a good work when an unexpected opportunity occurs. While on his way to attend to a dying twelve year old, a woman, bleeding for 12 years, guided by her faith, touches the garment of Jesus. She is instantly healed. Jesus realizes that someone’s faith has made use of his healing power. He has unknowingly participated in an unexpected opportunity.
I have heard that the reward for hard work is more hard work. Perhaps the same is true of good opportunities. That is, the rewards for good opportunities are more good, and even unexpected, opportunities. This healing is further evidence that Jesus takes the faith in us already and uses it to heal us. After the woman was healed, He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8: 48)
I also want to note again, that this is another situation where Jesus takes with him his inner circle of very faithful followers, Peter, John and James along with the parents of the child.. Perhaps he picked those who had both, faith in him, as well as genuine love for the child. After kicking the doubters out of the room Jesus focused on the twelve year old girl. “He took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat.” (Luke 8:54 and 55) Even in this act of healing I would say that Jesus used the faith of the five in the room to do His work.
Thank you Lord Jesus and use my faith in opportunities to do your good works, both expected and unexpected.
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 