"Take heart, daughter"
16 September 2022 Trinity Friday Blast Letter
Dear Trinity Family, Jesus’ grace.
“Take heart, daughter” Matthew 9.22. How long had it been since that woman felt the tender dignity of that familial title–daughter? How many times did the experts, medical or otherwise make her feel more like a nuisance or nag? How often did she feel more like a problem to be solved or avoided? How frequently did her helpers or community or husband or dad or sons or even sisters roll their eyes, and convey disgust or suspicion.
Jesus is so different from anyone we have ever met. Not a drip of calculation. No trace of disgust. No avoidance or too-busy-for-you. He didn’t give her dignity. Jesus recognized (and recognizes) a God-given dignity—latent, but long-buried, under layers of suffering, trial, sin (hers and others) sickness, attempts at anesthetizing the pain, lies from the devil usually spoken through the lips of others.
Jesus makes eye contact, “seeing her, he said, ‘Take heart, daughter.” He says it to my daughter Anni and other interns Grace and Carolyn, and to Beckie Tibbets in his heavenly presence now, and to Eliana Gaede, daughter of Forest and Diane (Lopez) Gaede who will be baptized this Sunday. “Take heart, daughter.” Whether you need the assurance in the valley of the shadow of death, or the baptismal promises at the beginning. Whether you need all the healing, sustaining, and mercy between the beginning and the end. You have a faithful Father, who has sent his only Son to say “Take heart, daughter.” You also have received the Spirit to believe that he is looking at you—talking to you.
Jesus’ peace, Nathan