Readings: 2 Samuel 21: 1-14; Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5: 21-43 As some of you might know, Matt and I are doing some renovations. Now it has been a real eye opener, as we have not embarked on anything like this in all our 18 years of marriage. It has gone particularly smoothly and it has been very gratifying seeing something built from the ground up. It has also given me a whole new perspective on the people who have the skill to do the building. I was surprised to find myself looking forward to getting home after work so I could see what the builders had achieved during the day. I couldn`t believe how excited I was when the pad was laid, when the walls went up and every other step along the way.

But it showed us that until we saw the tradesmen working we failed to see how skilled these people were; we couldn`t appreciate how complex each craft was. It was the result of many talented people, creating our little room. It reminded me of a story I read in a book by Paul Coehlo, a Brazilian writer, which I would like to read now.

Story

Faithful action, using our gifts, is what draws this writer to this person. Joseph responds to the call of God, and acts faithfully using his skills, so that his life and his faith are intertwined.

There are two lines in the story that strikes me. The first is this one: `That any man or woman for that matter can transform the task given to them by life into something sacred.` It reveals so much about how we should live our life today within our faith journey. It honours each of our gifts and sends a message of challenge, that we are to use our gifts faithfully in the call of God`s love.

The second powerful line comes at the end, Let me read it again . . . Using one`s skills can lead to miracles, miracles of transformation and change, if we acknowledge our talents and use them wisely. Even if we don`t see that change or transformation take place.

The message from this little story is reinforced by today`s readings from Paul and Mark, and surprisingly from Samuel.

The Corinthian reading refers to money, suggesting it is not the amount you have, but the faithful way in which it is used for the betterment of all which is the critical point. This equally applies to things other than money, namely our gifts and talents. It is not how many we have, but how we use them.

Paul makes it clear the giving he is referring to is not for reward or as payment, but because we want to live a Christ centred life. We share our money and resources to be part of God`s message to the world of love.
Bill Loader writes that, `For Paul the vision of reconciliation, justice and peace, embraces everything because it flows from the heart of God. Life in the here and now can be nothing other than participation together in God`s life. We are to see ourselves as living out the life of God we saw in Christ. To join God`s loving`.
So the call is more universal. We are called to not only share our money, but our skills (whatever they are) and our time. And to use them wisely, freely and lovingly.

But what are our skills? I know that at times I feel I am not practical enough, I do not contribute enough, that my skills don`t make enough of a difference, and this doubt about one`s efforts is common. As people of faith we have a tendency to worry and often we think that our contribution to either our church community or to the wider community is not enough, or that what we have to offer is less than others.

The reading today from Mark, however, points to a universal truth about God. That we are valued equally by God regardless of our status in society, which in our world is measured by what we do or how much money we have. And because of that knowledge, we are open to contribute in whatever way we can to God`s loving, without feeling inadequate.

Mark`s story about two healings is documented also by Luke and Matthew.

The reading focuses on Jesus in a crowd and on two females, a girl of 12 and a woman who had been haemorrhaging for 12 years.

The purity laws of the day were extreme. Menstruation was regarded as unclean. In Leviticus 15:19-24, it reads `a woman menstruating is impure for 7 days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening. Everything upon which she lies during her impurity shall be unclean, everything also upon which she sits shall be unclean. Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe in water and be unclean until the evening.`

While these rules arose from a fear of the unknown, women who were menstruating or bleeding from some other condition became totally isolated and rejected from the rest of the village or town. This was the plight of the woman in the story. Twelve years of rejection, of social isolation, of being an outcast.

This woman comes to Jesus for healing but is afraid to face him directly so just touches him in the crowd. Jesus responds by trying to find out who has touched him, and speaks to the woman personally. She tells him everything and he listens intently, never once worrying about any laws that might preclude their contact. He sends her away healed and in peace. In this story he has responded to a woman, isolated by her condition, by healing her and including her in his faith mission. But the healing is ambiguous; is it a physical healing or is it a healing that comes from knowing you are loved and worthy? It doesn`t matter, for what it says is that God`s love is freely offered, and it is offered to all, including and especially those society casts aside.

This message is emphasised by attaching the resurrection of the little girl as a follow-up to the woman`s story. Jesus enters the house of the girl suggesting that she has been raised, even though her family thinks otherwise and is in deep mourning. He heals her and lifts her up to meet her parents who of course are amazed at this event. Then he goes on his way. The physical resurrection of the little girl is seen in contrast to the healing of the woman as the two stories sit side by side. Mark is stressing here that all are equally valued in the eyes of God, young girl and haemorrhaging woman alike. The child is the daughter of Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. She is on the verge of fertility and hence, greater status in society. The woman has bled for 12 years and is therefore impure, outcast and poor. For Jesus all are valued, regardless of social status, religious purity or gender and all are worthy of his love and compassion.

How do these readings speak to us today? I think we occasionally need to be reminded that we are all of value, and that we can all make valuable contributions, regardless of our so called status in life, which seems to mean so much to our society. Our contribution can be worthwhile whether it is as a leading surgeon, scientist or politician, or as a volunteer, housewife or someone`s friend, or even a diligent carpenter. We are all different and have different skills and abilities, but all are needed and wanted.

But it is even more than what Paul and Mark are saying. The final reading from Samuel, which I have added, takes our actions into the future. What we hear in this story from the Old Testament is that the actions we contribute, the things we do using our gifts, which we think will not make a difference, can be surprisingly effective, as long as we continue to have faith in God`s message of love.

For this I refer to an article written by Paula Gooder, and these are mostly her words. In 2 Samuel 1, David cries out for the fallen Saul and Jonathan, killed during battle. As the book continues, the bloodshed increases, and the Gibeonites kill seven men in retribution for Saul`s genocidal intentions against them. Yet David refuses to bury the bodies - including Saul and his beloved Jonathan. The cycle is broken not from someone with power, but from someone with none. Rizpah, the concubine of Saul, totally powerless, did the only thing she could do in such circumstances, she poured out her love and grief for her dead relatives by mourning them publicly.

By keeping a vigil over the bodies, Rizpah - mother of two of the slain - helps David to ask God`s forgiveness and to break a centuries-long cycle of violence. David was deeply ashamed by Rizpah`s response. He recognises the genuineness of her emotion and her expression of it, and is changed as a result. He orders the removal of the bodies from the mountain and gives them the dignity of a proper burial.

It is impossible to know whether Rizpah expected to achieve anything by her actions; they may simply have been an expression of love and grief. However, whatever her intentions, the effectiveness of her actions cannot be denied. By acting courageously out of genuine love, Rizpah changed the policy of a mighty ruler and prevented the escalation of violence and revenge.

This reading is particularly powerful. Its message is clear, that if we are faithful in our use of all that we have in the name of the gospel, miracles can happen. If we loyally use the gifts and skills we have, people can change and lives can be empowered. These gifts may be as simple as sitting with someone who is sick or dying, or as complicated as performing surgery to save a life. Every action counts.

All three readings are summarised in the story about Joseph, which I read at the beginning of this sermon. While a rather neglected figure in the bible he could be a symbol of what our lives should be like. In that little story we are reminded of a man living a full life, using his skill as a carpenter to support his family, while at the same time being faithful to God`s call and perhaps even being part of a miracle that would someday transform the world. That`s not a bad way to spend one`s time.

Let us use the abilities and resources we have. Let us acknowledge them as worthy and contribute in what ever way we can to the betterment of others. This can be in this community or our wider community, but let us never doubt that our actions can lead to surprising results.