“And then you can go somewhere else, because here, the flea market, not very clean, and the strange words from the lips of Christ are heard. Anyway: why so long we had to wait. He is to blame. Even to blame if something does not work. And if something gives, it could be earlier” – premoved Archpriest Alexander Abramov of the week 25th after Pentecost
- We paved his soul and put it over the barbed wire
- Dead to sin and alive to God, we will be able to say: beware, this is not a game
- Not ask Christ to leave, or do you also need “God in a box”?
And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at the feet of Jesus besought Him to come into his house because he had one only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went the people thronged Him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which isterial on doctors all manor, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of His garment: and immediately her issue of blood stopped. And Jesus said, who touched Me? When all denied, Peter said and they that were with Him, master! people and jostle You, and You say, who touched Me? But Jesus said, somebody touched Me for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.
The woman, seeing that she was not utils, trembling came, and falling before Him declared to Him before all the people why she touched Him and he was healed. He said to her, daughter,! your faith has saved you; go in peace. While He yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him, thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher. But Jesus, hearing it, said to him: be not afraid, only believe, and be saved. When he came to the house, has not allowed enter anybody, except for Peter, John and James, and the girl’s father and mother. And all wept, and bewailed her. But He said, weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. He put them all out, and took her by the hand, called, saying, maid! stand up. And her spirit returned; she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished. He charged them to tell no one about the incident.
LK. 8: 41-56
Continues reading Sunday Gospels of Luke. Today we are talking about the healing of the bleeding and raising Jairus’s daughter.
Archpriest Alexander Abramov
A lot of people thronging the Savior; Church Slavonic text even says that people are “oppressed”[1]. And in this crowd of the bleeding woman who spent all her money on doctors, touching the edge of the robe of Christ in the hope of healing. The Savior says that someone touched Him. To the disciples these words seem strange. They are, however, already accustomed to the fact that the Teacher often says to them strange words. Maybe it’s some kind of a new parable? It’s unclear just yet what it’s about and why. What kind of individual touch can be when there are so many people and all the “oppressed”, jostle? And He said, “Someone touched Me. I felt issatsu Me strength.” And then healed the woman admits that she is. The Savior encourages her with the words: “be of good cheer, daughter, your faith has saved you”.
But the question is: when I established this belief? A subtle point. Looks like the woman who spent all the money on doctors, decided to try one more chance. She heard that a number is a preacher say that he heals, but still free, and decided to try it. Opportunities “to come”, to talk one-on-one was not. And a woman — was not was — resorted to this quite superstitious technique: touches the edge of the Robe of the Savior. Just in case. Knowing that Jewish law forbids to do so.
Christ is this inner detachment, no doubt, feels, and decides to help. Because strength proceeds from Him not as from the generator — irrespective of who touched Him. Of course, not so. The Savior decides the woman to help, knowing that no particular faith was not in it. There was a desire to try another tool. Faith occurs in the moment when between Christ and this woman happens to be a private conversation. She thought that she will touch and go back home, and then ask: who did it? But what if He says that’s bad? Maybe she’ll be laughing? So many people! Ashamed. But still a woman, instead of running away, trembling — the gospel emphasizes this will do to the Savior. And talking to Him. And in this meeting of views and exchange of words comes to her clear that He Is the one. Her arrival, still quite superstitious in the beginning, was not accidental. And what would Christ drive. And all right she did.
It is very important to comprehend where in the scale we are there, in the beginning, where we can touch and pull of Christ over the edges of the Robe, as the magician, or where we already have hopes to hear: “be of good cheer, your faith has saved you”? Was found whether we eyes with Christ? Really want to meet. Very much that our faith was not the faith of a pagan, superstitious, empty. “Who’s this band? What is this image helpful?” It’s like in the kitchen: here spices, cereal over here…
I had some time ago a very bitter conversation. A family of about ten years trying to have a baby. And so the Lord gave my wife to get pregnant. Calling me excited husband and said, “Pray, please, that this long-awaited situation.” I said to him, “So what do you call? Run into the temple. I’ll see you tomorrow, pray to have Theodore”. He: “Yes, I want to. I’m gonna have a trip, and after a couple of months we’ll come.” What can I say? About a couple of months can be a speech? Tomorrow, today, now, immediately! All of these situations can be revoked as granted. I told my companion about it and heard: “we’ll Try, of course, to find a way, but not in the schedule to include …”
And so I became bitter that I can’t do anything because the vast majority of people believes that the Lord should give them His power emanating from the edge of the Robe. Required. And then you can go somewhere else, because here, the flea market, not very clean, and the strange words from the lips of Christ are heard. Anyway: why so long we had to wait. He is to blame. Even to blame if something does not work. And if something gives, it could be and early.
God will not fit Themselves into the framework of our such ideas about It. And will not explain anything. We all will become clear. That’s just this clarity can be very serious.
The bleeding woman tells us today’s gospel, not the wise, not a book and not a disciple of Christ. But she had enough strength to raise his eyes from the edge of the Robe up and see the Heavenly Father. And talk to Him. And happy she was. God forbid we even wmale this feat to repeat.
From the book “whosoever will may come. Conversations on Sundays and feast the gospel reading,” published in the publishing house “Nikea”
[1] Thou also idyashe, Agnetha His people ( LK. 8: 42; hwt.-seq.).