Daily Devotion

Audio

25/4 – “Who was it that touched me?”

Today is the Friday of Easter week, 25th April. Let us be still before His living presence. We start with praying this collect:

Almighty and everlasting Father,
we thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day.
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger;
order us in all our doings;
and guide us to do always what is right in your eyes:
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us praise together in the words of Psalm 149

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!
² Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
³ Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
⁴ For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.
⁵ Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their beds.
⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their throats
    and two-edged swords in their hands,
⁷ to execute vengeance on the nations
    and punishments on the peoples,
⁸ to bind their kings with chains
    and their nobles with fetters of iron,
⁹ to execute on them the judgment written!
    This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the Lord!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning,
is now, and shall be forever. Amen.

The Scripture Reading is Luke 8: 43-48

⁴³ And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. ⁴⁵ And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” ⁴⁷ And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. ⁴⁸ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

Reflection

As Jesus moved through the crowds, he was obviously pressed on all sides. Many were “touching” him, intentionally or not. This is one reason why his disciples were surprised when he asked, “Who was it that touched me?”

This contact caught his attention. This touch was different. It was a desperate one. And it came with faith.

It is sometimes taught that miracles have no human agency. For these are dependent solely on God’s sovereign will.

So, did faith heal the woman? We can say that Jesus healed her, not her faith. However, it was her faith that caused Jesus healing power to flow to her.

As with many other stories in the Gospel and also taught elsewhere in Scripture, our response do matter, After all, we can only be saved if we believe.

What is the Lord saying about Himself in this passage?

What is the Lord saying to you?

Collect

O God of heavenly powers,
by the might of your command
you drive away from our bodies all sickness and infirmity:
Be present in your goodness with your servants.,
that our weakness may be banished and strength restored;
and that, our health being renewed, 
we may bless your holy Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Two sister sing this beautiful & meaningful Easter version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. These Easter lyrics were written by Kelley Mooney,

A crown of thorns placed on His head
He knew that He would soon be dead
He said did you forget me
Father did you?

They nailed Him to a wooden cross
Soon all the world would feel the loss
Of Christ the King before us, Hallelujah

Hallelujah

He hung His head and prepared to die
Then lifted His face up to the sky
Said I am coming home now
Father to you

A reed which held His final sip
Was gently lifted to His lips
He drank His lastand gave His soul to glory

Hallelujah

The soldier who had used his sword
To pierce the body of our Lord
Said truly this was
Jesus Christ our Savior

He looked with fear upon his sword
Then turned to face his Christ and Lord
Fell to his knees crying Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Took from His head the thorny crown
And wrapped Him in a linen gown
And laid Him down to rest inside the tomb
The holes in His hands, His feet and side
Now in our hearts we know He died
To save us from ourselves oh Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Three days went by again they came
To move the stone to bless the slain
With oil and spice anointing Hallelujah
But as they went to move the stone
They saw that they were not alone
But Jesus Christ has risen Hallelujah

Hallelujah

Link to today’s Morning Office