It’s all about moments in time. Both a nameless woman who has been seriously ill for twelve years and a father called Jairus chose the same moment of Jesus’ time to change their lives or the lives of those they love. This was the moment they were called to be brave!

This week's news

Brave is the story of a tenth century Highland Scottish princess, Merida, who defies the age-old customs of her culture. It tells of Merida’s wish to be free from the constraints of tradition and to challenge the stereotypes of her time. Her wish for her life to be different involves taking a stand against her family’s wishes, whilst also knowing that she needs them to support her now more than ever – the bravest journeys are never taken alone. Ultimately, she must answer the question: ‘If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?’

Brave is the lastest film collabaration from Disney and Pixar studios, whose previous hits include Toy Story, Wall-E and Finding Nemo, it is their first to focus on a female protagonist. Already a US box office number one hit, it is set for release in the UK on 17 August. Watch the trailer.

Crowds of people surround Jesus at the beginning of this week’s Gospel story. We see crowds and almost unprecedented levels of security this week at the start of Wimbledon – where another Scot braves the expectations and pressure placed upon him by a home crowd.

Crowds gather for other high profile events this week, including the London 2012 Festival arts event running alongside the Olympics; the continuing European football championship; and the Olympic Torch Relay, as the light of the torch continues its 70 day journey around Great Britain, with 8000 runners carrying it for 8000 miles.

Wherever crowds gather there is always pressure to perform. Despite the pressure of numbers of people and the pressures of time constraints, for one woman and for one little girl (and her family), Jesus performs what is needed of him, now.

Reflection

Waiting upon God, described in Lamentations 3.22-33, is a theme that must strike chords with many who have endured long and difficult periods of struggle during their lifetime. Many wait for the time when things will get better and so here is a lament that clings on to hope – a hope that exists because of God. Difficult times shall pass, in time, and all shall be well. Here we see patient waiting and intense longing for things to be different from what they are now. Be brave, for in time God will make things new, like a new morning (v.23).

Mark 5.21-43 begins with a not insignificant amount of bravery from the disciples after last week’s storms (see Mark 4.35-41), as once more they climb back into a boat and cross Lake Galilee. They arrive back to possibly the same great crowd of people, once more pushing, shoving and pressing in on every side, all impatient and wanting to get a glimpse or to touch Jesus.

Up until this moment, for both Jairus and the woman, fear has subdued faith and hope. It takes bravery to trust God enough to allow hope and healing to begin in both these situations. Both Jairus and the woman pluck up enough courage to reach out to Jesus, albeit in different ways and from very different starting points. Jairus, a respected leader of these people, humbles himself by revealing his need in public. The woman, a disrespected and shunned outcast, braves the risk of discovery.

If life’s pilgrimage is indeed about how we experience God in the events along the way and not just about our arrival destination, then what might we learn from this moment of encounter with Jesus for these two people? What would we do if we were faced with Merida’s question: ‘If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?’

Hope in God, like the faithful actions of Jairus and the woman, means knowing that the bravest journeys are never taken alone. Reaching out for Jesus means that we acknowledge we cannot be alone and that is a hopeful first step in itself.

Prayer

This is a prayer for courage and hope, with space to offer individual hurts and fears, followed by a response.

Jesus,
when we feel crushed by the crowding world around us,
yet so alone,
needing healing, needing acceptance,
we long to hear your hopeful words:
‘Your faith has made you well, go in peace.’
Silence.

In time it shall pass.
Be brave, take heart.

When we lose faith, oblivious to support from those around us,
and place little value upon our lives,
feeling useless, feeling scarred,
we long to hear your reassuring words:
‘Do not fear, only believe.’
Silence.

In time it shall pass.
Be brave, take heart.

When we lose sight of what it means to be alive,
as if we were dead to all the world –
closed eyes, closed minds, closed hearts –
we long to be taken by the hand and to hear your words
‘My little one, get up.’
Silence.

In time it shall pass.
Be brave, take heart.
Amen.

Use the Taizé song ‘Wait for the Lord’ in the form of a repetitive chant as a prayer, or possibly sung as a response.

Questions

• Ask people to talk about a time when they have had to be brave, either to get somewhere or to achieve their goal.
• When have people felt God close at hand in times struggle?

Action

Take a look at the film The Miracle Maker, which tells the story of Jesus’ life from the perspective of Jairus, whose daughter Jesus heals. Watch the part where Jairus goes to find Jesus.

Consider taking a group of people from your church to see the Olympic Torch Relay as it passes nearest to where your church is. What is the significance of this light travelling through our land?

Show images of crowds from this week’s news stories and relate them to the crowds pressing in on Jesus: Wimbledon; football; the Olympic Torch Relay; the London 2012 Festival; post-presidential election scenes from Egypt. Talk about times when you’ve had to ‘brave the crowds’, either to get to see something or someone, or to get to somewhere. Talk about what it feels like to be in a heavily crowded situation, with people pushing in on you from every side.

Look for other items in the news this week that called for people to be brave in order to bring about change in their lives.

Young People

Ask your young people to consider a time when they felt alone in a crowd, e.g. school. How did they feel? What does Mark’s story of two very different people meeting Jesus offer by the way of courage?

Sometimes we can be unhappy with our life and who we feel we are. Show the trailer of Brave. What would people do if they were faced with Merida’s question: ‘If you had a chance to change your fate, would you?’ What would you change and why?

Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving three churches in the north west of Coventry. He is interested in the symbolism of visual art as an expression of faith.

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