Bold faith at the Communion table
This Communion meditation reflects on the woman healed in Mark 5 and the kind of bold, active faith that reaches for Jesus. As we take the bread and cup, we’re invited to push past doubt and shame and take hold of the grace he offers.
- Mark 5 shows a desperate woman choosing courageous action to reach Jesus.
- Bold faith moves beyond admiration to actively take hold of what’s offered.
- In Communion, Jesus invites us to come, receive, and be made whole.
By Quentin Davis
Bold faith that reaches out
As we gather around this table today, let’s reflect on a moment from the Gospels that captures the essence of bold faith—the story of the woman who had been bleeding for 12 long years. In Mark chapter 5, we read how she had suffered greatly, spending all she had on doctors, yet growing worse. She was unclean by the standards of her time, isolated and desperate. But when she heard about Jesus, she didn’t stand back. She pushed through the thronging crowd, thinking, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” And she did. Power went out from Jesus, and she was made whole.
Imagine that scene: the press of bodies, the noise, the risk of being noticed and rejected. Yet she reached out anyway. It’s reminiscent of a story I’ve heard from a seminar speaker who holds up a crisp $100 bill and asks the audience, “Who wants this?” Hands shoot up everywhere—everyone desires it. But then, amid the raised hands and murmurs, one person bolts from their seat, runs to the stage, and snatches the bill right from the speaker’s hand. The speaker smiles and says, “That’s the one who gets it—because they didn’t just want it; they took action to claim it.”
Taking hold of grace in the bread and cup
As we prepare our hearts for Communion, consider this: Jesus offers himself freely, like that $100 bill held high. His body broken, his blood poured out—for forgiveness, for healing, for restoration. Many of us raise our hands in worship, affirming our need for him. But today, let’s be like that woman, pushing past our doubts, our shame, and our distractions. Let’s be like that bold seminar attendee, not content to admire from afar but reaching out to grasp the grace that’s extended.
In this bread and cup, Jesus invites us: “Come, touch the hem of my garment. Take hold of my sacrifice.” Your faith, even trembling, makes you whole. Let us pray.
Lord Jesus, thank you for your boundless mercy. As we partake of these elements, heal our broken places and draw us closer to you. In your name, amen.
Quentin Davis is a financial planner with WealthWise Financial Group and the associate minister at New Burlington Church of Christ in Cincinnati, Ohio.
