Proper 5A’26
7 June 2026
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
North Little Rock, Arkansas
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” Amen. – from Matthew 9.12-13
What story did you bring with you to church today? Maybe it’s a story of a recent success, or something else that’s calling for celebration. But often the stories we bring are the stories are the ones that revolve around people, places, and situations we are trying to manage, fix, control, face, or escape from. These are the stories that keep us up at night, and are the ones that, no matter who we are, where we are from, and no matter what we are doing, are never far from our thoughts.
Back in 2012 Chick-fil-a developed an ad campaign based on this phenomenon. It opens with these words: “Every Life Has a Story” followed by a camera operator walking throughout the restaurant filming customers who were there eating. As the camera focused over an individual/s, a thought balloon would appear over their heads revealing the story they were carrying around with them. The camera tightens onto a man in his 40s and his story read: “Fired from his job and worries how he will provide for his family.” The camera then turns to a young woman with her young child; the balloon appears with this: “Single mom raising family alone & trying to make ends meet.” They then throw in a couple of positive ones, a woman in her 50s had this appear: “Immigrated to America when she was 12, and recently received her citizenship.” Then there is an older couple with this one: “After years of fighting cancer he is now, cancer free.” Then a 6-year-old little girl is shown with this: “Mom died during childbirth and dad blames her.” A business man came next with this one: “Only son was just deployed to a war zone.” The last one in the commercial was of a 75-year-old woman, her balloon read: “Husband of 49 years died last month. Today would have been their 50th anniversary.” The commercial ends with the following words: “Every Life Has a Story…If we Bother to Read It.”1
Jesus being both human and divine was (and still is) able to read the thought bubbles over everyone’s heads.
In today’s gospel we see Jesus walk up to Matthew, a despised tax collector and asks him to follow him – Matthew gets up and does it! What might the thought bubble be over Matthew’s head? “I’m so hated and feel stuck! Even though I’m extorting extra money it’s not making me happy – and I’m so lonely. If someone could show me the way to something better to do with my life.” Jesus was the Way at just the right time in Matthew’s life to the something better to do with his life! Rather than extortion he would become generous using his money to feed the poor and spread the good news. The Crook became a compassionate one.
Next came a group of strict religious leaders called Pharisees, who were gifted with the ministry of criticism, and were quick to Jesus’ disciples why he ate with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus could read the bubbles over the tax collectors and sinners heads that they were craving God’s loving acceptance. The Pharisees were caught in the trap of criticism that kept from finding true religion.
Next comes a leader of the synagogue who heartbroken by the death of his daughter, breaks all proper protocols of dignity, kneeling down to a highly unorthodox rabbi, Jesus. He blurts out a powerful declaration in Jesus: “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus and the disciples follow him to his house but on the way, they are interrupted by a woman who had been suffering from a chronic blood disorder for 12 years. Gripped by a desperation that only those who suffer with chronic pain can understand, she comes up behind Jesus and touches the fringe of his coat, telling herself “If I can just touch his coat I will be made well.” Jesus feeling her faith filled touch, turns around, looks her in the eyes and says, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” Finally, relief after 12 long painful and humiliating years.
From that miracle, Jesus and his disciples continue on to the synagogue leaders home arriving to witness a group of traditional mourners who were weeping to the accompaniment of a consort of flutes. When Jesus tells the mourners to go home the girl is “only sleeping” they laugh hysterically, but Jesus got the last laugh. He went into the house, took the hand of the dead girl who instantly sat up in the bed very much alive. The news of the unorthodox rabbi’s miraculous resuscitation spread like wildfire across the entire region.
The whole message of this gospel reading came in the response of Jesus to the critical pharisees: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” By faith Matthew acted on Christ’s invitation to follow him into a whole new life. Matthew knew he was a sinner and heart sick about where his life had led him, knew he needed a physician. By faith, the woman who had suffered with 12 years of pain and hemorrhaging takes an active step of faith by reaching out to Jesus and grabbing his coat fringe and is healed on the spot! Her life had taken her to a lonely, ostracized place she had tried everything nothing had worked until she met Jesus the synagogue leader’s daughter dies, the mourners were already wailing he decides to lose all decorum, to risk his reputation and his position in the Jewish community. He finds Jesus, kneels and asks him to bring his daughter back to life. All medical interventions, and all intercessory prayers had failed to prevent the death of a precious daughter – he knew that only the Great Physician that he had heard people talking about could help her now – and that’s just what Jesus did.
Jesus being both human and divine is able to read the thought bubbles over our heads too. Comedian and Episcopalian Robin Williams once said: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind.” Where does your life hurt? What need can’t you meet for yourself? What dilemma would you write in your thought balloon today?
Well, according to a despised tax collector, a group of sinners with bad reputations, a chronically ill woman, and one grateful synagogue leader and his daughter, Jesus the Great Physician knows, Jesus cares – trust him, let go – and let God! A-men.
The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
All fall short, all have a need that they can’t meet themselves
1 Every Life has a Story: YouTube Chick-fil-A June 8th 2012