Excavating Our Pain
- davidwperk
- Mar 4, 2024
- 7 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, March 4, 2024
The week of the third Sunday in Lent
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
25Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ 29Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 955)
AM Psalm 80; PM Psalm 77, [79]
Gen. 44:18-34; 1 Cor. 7:25-31; Mark 5:21-43
Today we celebrate the Feast of Paul Cuffee. ( See below.)
David’s Reflections
Thomas Moore, the former monk who became a Jungian psychologist has written about illness that
. . . all illness is stereophonic. It plays out at the level of actual body tissues and also at the level of dream. All illness is meaningful, although its meaning may never be translatable into entirely rational terms. The point is not to understand the cause of the disease and then solve the problem, but to get close enough to the disease to restore the particular religious connection with life at which it hints. We need to feel the teeth of the god within the illness in order to be cured by the disease. In a very real sense, we do not cure diseases, they cure us, by restoring our religious participation in life.*
The woman with the prolonged hemorrhage had suffered for twelve years. Her desperation prompted her to take the risk of violating several practices of the day by approaching Jesus in her ritually unclean state and touching him. In a real sense, her disease restored her religious connection to life and cured her, because it prompted her to approach the healer. She was cured of the physical malady but she also was cured of the social isolation her disease had imposed. And, her spiritual connection to God was deepened through the illness.
Can we identify with this woman? What symptoms are you and I suffering that persist and that drain us of the energy of life, that “bleed” us and leave us feeling weak and powerless? Do those symptoms create a sense of isolation? Do they prompt us to conceal our suffering from others, isolating us from the nurture and support that might make a substantial difference?
What a different spin on illness, be it physical, emotional, mental or a combination. What do you think of Moore’s idea that illness can cure us by driving us to restore our spiritual connections that the symptoms may hint are lacking or are in need of renewal?
This orientation might prompt us to move closer to or deeper into our pain and dis-ease, rather than seeking escape from it, to excavate it for the healing buried within. This woman had suffered for twelve years. Admittedly, she had spent a great deal of that time, as would you or I, in seeking deliverance. But, twelve years gave her ample time to move more fully into her illness.
How would our lives look if we chose to excavate our pain and get more fully acquainted with what it is saying to us about our needs? Perhaps we still would consult our physician or our therapist or both. Yet, our goal might be different. We would perhaps be seeking the messages being telegraphed by our dis-ease. It might well be that the symptoms would never go away (Read 2 Corinthians 12). Or, perhaps they might, as was the case with this woman.
But, a treasure might be unearthed in the excavating of the pain, the treasure of a deeper and broader connection with God and others, a kind of wholeness and reweaving of our inner being that could not come about apart from going into the pain. The pain can become an initiation into a new way of being in the world and connect us with others sharing that particular pain. The disease would then be our cure. As James Hillman put it, “Through the symptom the psyche demands attention.”+
* Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life (New York: HarperCollins, 1992), p. 168.
+James Hillman, Insearch: Psychology and Religion, (Scribner's, 1967) pp. 43-44.
Collect of the Day, The Third Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, p. 218).
Collect for Monday of the Third Week in Lent
Look upon the heart-felt desires of your humble servants, Almighty God, and stretch forth the right hand of your majesty to be our defense against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, p. 48)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Paul Cuffee, witness among the Shinnecock (died 4 March 1812 CE)
Collect of the Feast of Paul Cuffee
Almighty God, who empowers evangelists and preachers: Help us to proclaim your Word with power, like your servant Paul Cuffee, that more might come to a deeper life in you; in the Name of your Son Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For Social Service
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy- for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 260)
A Prayer for Light
Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, Jesus Christ, Amen. (BCP, 111)
A Collect for Mission
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100, 257)
Daily Office Gospel, Mark 5:21-43
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23and 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.’
24 So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ 29Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ 31And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?”’ 32He looked all around to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
35 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?’ 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ 37He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ 40And 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. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum,’ which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ 42And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age)0 At this they were overcome with amazement. 43He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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