Scripture Reading

Luke 8:40-48 (NRSVUE)

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’s feet and began pleading with him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying.

As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood 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 cloak, and immediately her flow of blood stopped. Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I noticed that power had gone out from me.” When the woman realized that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before 

him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Introductory Remarks: 

The woman with an issue of blood had a 12-year rhythm for her healing, a rhythm that did not work. In year 13, she learned a new rhythm and faithfully engaged in it. Her healing blessing was instantaneous. Like the woman with the issue of blood, we, too, must faithfully engage in a new rhythm that ‘shuts down’ the cycle known as ‘repeat’ and ‘opens the way’ for new issues of life to flow freely. It’s all up to us. We are God’s champions.

Major Points of the Lesson:

1. Champions understand: Nothing just happens. Everything happens ‘just’. 

2. Champions understand: There is no loss in life. There are lessons in life. If we don’t learn the lesson, we don’t lose; we repeat. 

3. Champions understand: Experience is Not the best teacher. You can learn to listen to the whisperings of the still, small voice of God within you and, in faith, act upon what you hear! You will be guided into right action.

Quote:

“Champions are more concerned with learning than losing.”

Sheila McKeithen