Outcast

Luke 8:43-44  Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.


One of the classic books is "The Scarlet Letter" which was about public humiliation for women with moral  lapses. If a woman became pregnant when unmarried for example they would have to sew a scarlet letter on their clothing to tell the town of their sinfulness. The woman in the gospel passage would have been in a similar situation just because of a physical ailment. Declared unclean she would be an untouchable in her society and forbidden to be among clean people. Having done all she could to be cured and return to a normal life with family and friends she had been an outcast for twelve years. When I taught school I would watch kids be treated mildly, in comparison, like outcasts and see the devastated effects it would have even for a day or two. I can't imagine living in a situation where I am outcast from society for even a short time let alone twelve years. She could be punished and persecuted even for coming into the midst of that crowd and bumping into people but she chanced it just to touch the fringe of Jesus garment as he passed. What desperation she must have felt. Just a touch, just a touch, Lord heal me, she must have thought. The reputation of Jesus must have so huge and well known that she was willing to risk anything just for a touch, just to possibly be restored to family, friends, and normal life.


I often say that my life has been touched by Jesus. I was thinking the other day why I don't say that I have flooded with Jesus or immersed in Jesus, or something compelling like that, and I think it is because I feel like I would be overwhelmed with more than a touch. Creeping in the crowd I want to sneak up and get a touch that will make my life normal only to find in the touch the extraordinary. Again ad again I have been touched by that power that went out from Jesus, not like an every request granted magic, but an I am working for your best grace. Sometimes I wish the touch worked every time, some things would be different if all wishes were granted, but I trust Jesus touch is always working  for my long term good. I'll keep seeking his touch and trusting him for all the blessings I find today, but also because I know I don't want to be the outcast at the most important moment that's for sure.