Hope.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
– Luke 8:42-44

Hope.  Trusting that God is capable and cares about our situation.  Engaging in hope is remembering God’s faithfulness in the past and looking forward to God’s faithfulness in the future.  We stand in the not-yet moment of God’s completed work.  As the woman reached out to touch Jesus’ cloak, she hoped that simply being near enough to touch him would be enough to heal her.  Knowing full well that all the doctors in the past had failed and not really certain that this healer would be able to do anything different, but hoping nonetheless.

Here is an excerpt from Buechner’s sermon ‘A Room Called Remember’:

“Then at last we see what hope is and where it comes from, hope as the driving power and outermost edge of faith. Hope stands up to its knees in the past and keeps its eyes on the future. There has never been a time past when God wasn’t with us as the strength beyond our strength, the wisdom beyond our wisdom…  Because we remember, we have this high and holy hope: that what God has done, he will continue to do, that what he has begun in us and our world, he will in unimaginable ways bring to fullness and fruition… To have faith is to remember and wait, and to wait in hope is to have what we hope for already begin to come true in us through our hoping. Praise him.”

What are you hoping for today?  World peace, healing from illness, protection from infection, financial security… these are all hopes and prayers we lift up to God.  God knows our needs.  God knows our hopes and our hearts.  God is faithful.  Keep hoping.

Questions for the week:  Do I gossip? Have I shared information that should have been kept confidential?  Is there anyone of whom I need to ask forgiveness? Is there anyone I need to forgive?

Healing God, we come today seeking your presence in our broken places.  In our own stories, we have struggles, we carry burdens, and mask our shame.  Help us find the courage to reach out to you in all places—not just in the church, but also out on the streets.  May we touch the hem of your garment and be reminded of your words—that we are enough—that our faith has made us well. We invite you into our hearts and welcome the transformation you continually inspire! Let us turn to you with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. Let us worship God.  Amen.