BC

At some point in school, early on, you came to know what the abbreviations BC and AD meant after an indicated year in time. These days we use the abbreviations BCE, “Before the Common Era,” and CE, indicating in “The Common Era,” Way back when, we used AD for “anno Domini” meaning “in the year of our Lord” and BC meaning “before Christ.” What follows is a different take on BC.

Tomorrow is the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, and when we gather to make Eucharist at church, we will re-live together a Gospel proclamation from the fifth chapter of Mark. In this particular story of Jesus, we recall his interconnection with three other people: a synagogue leader, his daughter, and a woman from their town. They make for a fascinating foursome. Previewing the tale here, we think of the abbreviation “BC” differently. Instead of “before” indicating time sequence, we will let it indicate one’s place or position with another,

The three people in the story come to find themselves before Christ: they are in his presence, in a sequence. The presiding leader of the synagogue, Jairus before Christ, lying at his feet and pleading for the life of his daughter, who is succumbing to a deadly illness. He aches for Jesus’ help to save her life. As he guides him on their way to help her, they meet the woman who has a condition causing hemorrhaging.

She has been this sick for twelve years. She quietly comes to Jesus from behind him, and lightly touches his garment, and feels the healing grace flow through her. Jesus feels the energy leaving him, and asks who touched him. The woman then falls down before Christ and confesses it was she.

The young girl, only twelve years old is not even conscious, if in fact, everyone there says that it is too late, no one needs to bother, that she is dead. Somehow, to Jesus, even death is as mere sleeping. She is lying before Christ, with the father Jairus, and disciples, Peter, James, and John in their presence. Jesus says to her in their language, “Little girl, get up.” She rises, and Jesus tells people of the household, “Get her something to eat. What might have been a family busy, making burial arrangements, is now a happy family getting their lovely girl something to eat.

Do you see that putting yourself before Christ, that is, in the presence of the Savior, it to see life grow and expand? The man saw him respond to his request, and come with him. The woman saw him compliment her on her faith and sent her on healed completely. The little girl saw him beckon her to life and order her some nourishment to resume her life. Each was before Christ, BC, and each one found life and hope. The same is true for you. Put yourself, BC. Put yourself in the presence of Christ daily, and see your hope flourish and your life expand in joy.