Kate Adie, former BBC chief news correspondent, and now O.B.E., was famous for reporting from some of the world’s most war-torn locations. Such was her association with danger, the joke about her was: “if Kate Adie gets off a plane anywhere near you, you need to get on a plane as quickly as possible.”
Adopted herself, she published a book around 15 years ago in which she explored the history of foundling children, their journey and struggles, how they have been treated through the ages, and what that says about us as the human race. Her title in particular, has always grabbed me. She called it Nobody’s Child.
During our visit to Magdala, we went to see ruins of the first century Migdal Synagogue, discovered in 2009, and its newly built, and very beautiful, Boat Chapel, commemorating Jesus’ preaching from the boat on Galilee.
Each of the spaces within the chapel are well worth a visit but, for me, the lower Encounter Chapel with its first century floor, and synagogue-like feel, was the highlight. Like most of us, I was deeply drawn to the portrayal, that hangs there, of the bleeding woman who reached out for healing from Jesus as he walked towards the house of Jairus. It is by Chilean artist Daniel Cariola.
In her lovely Mayo accent, our guide told us that the rational behind the close-up take on that scene was that the artist did not feel those around Jesus, who had no real interest in him or the concerns of this impoverished women, deserved to be included. So, he painted only their lower bodies and the arm of the woman as she reached out to Jesus. The slight glow around her finger tip wonderfully suggests the power that flowed from Jesus into her.
‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ Mk 5:28
This incident, recorded in Mark 5:25-29, serves as a great reminder to us that God notices every single one of us. Even in the midst of all else that was going on; even in the midst of all the people and all the demands of his punishing schedule, Jesus still noticed this hurting and desperate woman. Almost certainly, she had come to be valueless to those around her. But not to Jesus. In his eyes, and in the eyes of our heavenly Father, every one of us is somebody’s child – and that somebody loves us very much.
