In Luke’s gospel chapter 8, we read the story of a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, and who because of Mosaic law was considered unclean and therefore forced to live apart from others for all that time.
In desperation she reached out in faith to touch Jesus’ cloak as he walked past and was instantly healed.
The beautiful thing about Jesus’ response was that he was not content with just her physical healing. He knew that it was her loneliness and isolation more than her physical condition that had made her so desperate.
And so he stopped, asked her to make herself known, and then provided the time and space for this lonely woman to tell her story in front of the crowd who had ostracised her for so long.
She was rewarded with Jesus’ affirmation and love as he said to her: “Daughter, your faith has healed you, go in peace.”
Her healing was complete and she was restored to her community.
Today we have no archaic laws keeping us apart, and the covid restrictions are a thing of the past, and yet loneliness is in every street and neighbourhood – it is the never-ending pandemic at the heart of so so many physical and mental health issues.
This story encourages us to stop, put our own agenda aside and notice those around us who long for some company: an elderly widow perhaps, or a stressed out single parent.
Maybe we can give them some of our precious time to listen to their story, make them feel valued and bring a small measure of healing and peace.
Jackie Mouradian from Wokingham Baptist Church, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
