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St. George's Episcopal Church Roseburg, Oregon Proper 8 , 2 July 2006 Go To St. George's Home Page

2 Samuel 1:1
Psalm 30:1-8
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
Collect of the Day
From the Revised Common Lectionary as Adapted for Use by the Episcopal Church
and Authorized by the 74 th General Convention of the ECUSA

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’“ He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:21-43)

He Called me “Daughter!”
The Rev. Dr. Bill Stroop

     Porcupines and raccoons are not terribly friendly toward each other. Both foragers of similar foods, they tend to growl and fight with each other as they try to scratch out a living in the forest. One small porcupine named Joggi was a thoughtful creature, who understood the limitations of his own existence and the infinite variety and possibility within his universe of the forest.[1] Joggi knew about the daily humdrum of life in the forest. Like you and me, he knew the feeling of being caught up in the middle of existence, not really sure of his purpose, often being crushed by the world. He had been unlucky with love, and was puzzled that despite that bittersweet experience, he also felt an inner insistence to go on … But to go on for what? He knew about the ongoing beat of life that often made no sense, but prodded him to get up each morning and face each new day, even when he was tired of it all. It throbbed deep within him, beneath his prickly spines. In the center of his body, there was a steady, consistent, thumping. That thumping was an unrelenting mystery.

     Joggi lived and loved and laughed and cried in a quiet way. The other creatures of the forest had seen the near-sighted creature poking about, bristling and stumbling, squinting and sniffing. Joggi had learned to be cautious of others; he was fearful of getting too involved with anyone. Although he wanted to be part of the forest community, his cautiousness kept Joggi from engaging in conversation. Joggi had always kept to himself, and he would not tell anyone his name. The other animals avoided him.

     Gamiel, the raccoon, didn’t remember much that happened before the accident. Raccoons generally have good memories, but Gamiel’s memory was fuzzy. He recalled a flash of light and something slamming into the side of his head. He remembered the “God-when-will-it-stop” pain that knocked him from the tree and into the underbrush. He remembered pulling himself along for a while, but his left side would not pull its weight. He remembered waking up, and seeing his reflection in a puddle of water; the whole right side of his head and his handsome mask were gone. And Gamiel remembered the hour when he could not see his reflection anymore: he had gone blind.

     Joggi stumbled upon Gamiel just after Gamiel lost his sight. As he laid there, having given up hope, he heard Joggi sniffing toward him. “You’re a raccoon!” Joggi exclaimed as he got close. Joggi was repulsed being so close to this foreign creature. Deep in his chest, the sound of life beat even faster. Don’t just stand there with your heart pounding and your spines bristling! Help him! “I believe you have been shot. Are you in pain?” Joggi asked. “No, I was in pain, but now I don’t feel much at all.” Gamiel replied. A long silence ensued between them; silence caused by perceptions of their differences. Joggi was silent a little too long, and Gamiel thought he was alone once more. “Please don’t leave me. Please just stay with me. You don’t have to do anything. Please…” Joggi swallowed hard, and with all the conviction he could muster, he agreed to stay. All of that day and night Joggi stayed by his side as Gamiel slept.

     In the Jewish town where Jesus had come, there was a woman who had suffered from pelvic hemorrhages for twelve years. By Levitical law, she was unclean – someone to be avoided. Jesus had just returned from a visit to the Gentile world where he healed a crazy Gentile possessed by demons and living in a graveyard. The town was buzzing with the news about how Jesus has healed the man – and they laughed at the irony that the demons had perished in a herd of pigs. But more important was the startling news that Jesus had cured a stranger, a foreigner, a Gentile. The woman heard this, and her heart beat faster with hope. Having lived in a world of silence and exclusion because of her illness, she cautiously reached out to Jesus. The crowd around Jesus was noisy, bustling with the news of his work with the possessed Gentile. “Jesus,” she whispered, “you don’t have to do anything. If I but touch your clothes …”

     When Gamiel awoke, he cried out for Joggi, afraid that he had left him. “No, I am here,” Joggi said. “I am hungry,” Gamiel announced. “I supposed you would be. Can you move at all?” Joggi asked. Gamiel stretched his right side, and pulled himself along. “Good! I can bring you some food, but you will have to drag yourself to the pond to get water. Come on! Let’s see how it goes.” said Joggi. And that is how their very unusual partnership began.

     After touching Jesus’ cloak, the woman was immediately healed. In fear mingled with gratitude, she fell on her knees before Jesus, her head bowed, afraid to look at him; afraid to speak. Jesus reached down, and helped her to her feet. To the surprise and shock of those around him who knew it was an abomination to have physical contact with this bleeding woman, he touched her arm and lovingly looked into her eyes. After a long moment in which she experienced the astonishing depth of God’s love, Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” And with that, God’s partnership with all of God’s people was immediately revealed: it is a partnership based on love. She trembled, and cast her gaze downward. She left Jesus there, slowly walking through the parted crowd. She never told Jesus her name.

     The rest of the animals in the forest were surprised to see Joggi and Gamiel in the forest together. Slowly they moved about, Joggi occasionally describing something for the crippled raccoon, or directing him to a tasty morsel on the forest floor. They had come together and made a home for each other. Not a regular home, and not just a place either. It was a shelter from the excessive pain of the world that each of them had known. It was a coming together of lonely and frightened creatures, who created with each other a bond of wholeness, where each upheld the dignity and respect of the other, despite their obvious differences. It was a bond of trust in which each other learned of the other’s mercy and forgiveness. Gamiel didn’t mind when Joggi was silent, because he could now hear and sense the beat in his own chest; thumping, ongoing, steady – right there.

     The sun had just come up when Joggi awoke and looked at his friend. He did not hear the familiar beat in his friend’s chest upon which he had laid his head. Gamiel’s strength had finally given out, and the final mystery had enveloped him. “I am surprised that you lasted this long. But, well, I had hoped you would have lived a little longer. Know what I mean?” he asked of the lifeless body. “You see, I never knew anybody very well before. But I felt like I knew you – even without talking. I had a really hard time talking to anybody, or getting to know anybody. And nobody wanted to get close to me because of these spines. Did you know I had these spines sticking out all over me? Probably not, but even with them, you touched me. Somehow, I think our hearts touched. I hope you don’t mind me talking to you this much. I wanted to tell you that it was an honor to know you, to tell you that you are indeed a very handsome raccoon; I am proud to call you my friend.” Joggi cleared his throat, and a tear dropped onto his nose. Beneath the prickly spines, thumping wildly, was the beat. Tell him! Tell Him! “Oh, and by the way, my name is Joggi.”

     The woman who never told Jesus her name walked home that day, and sat very quietly, trying to absorb all that had happened. She was penniless, having spent all her money on the doctors that did not help her. But she was well; she was healed; she was whole. She had never felt this good. The next day as she drew water at the well, she was aware that the villagers were looking at her. Although, self conscious, she was confident; no blood stained her clothing. Finally, someone spoke to her about how Jesus had also healed the daughter of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. She felt her arms and neck tingle, and her heart beat swiftly in her chest. As she raised her water jug to her shoulder, she stood tall and proud. She looked at them all and spoke to them – something she had not been able to do for twelve years. “He healed us all. He opened his heart to me, to the little girl, and even to the Gentile possessed by demons on the other side of the lake.” He called me ‘daughter.’ He doesn’t even know my name, yet he called me ‘daughter’. I am his. We are all his. His love healed me. His love binds us all together. I don’t know how or why his love does that any more than I know why my heart is pounding in my chest. But I trust in that love. I feel it with each heartbeat. And I know that His love will heal us all if we let it. And for that I say, thanks be to God!”

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2 Samuel 1:1

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan. (He ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said: Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

Psalm 30:1-8

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.

2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!

3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, |
and in his word I hope;

6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.

8 It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.

2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Now as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you --so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something-- now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has--not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”

Mark 5:21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’“ He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The story of the porcupine was inspired by the storytelling of Martin Bell in Martin Bell. “The Porcupine Whose Name Didn’t Matter.” The Way of the Wolf. (New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1970), 111-119.

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