Week 17 - Jesus Heals
Theme:
Jesus can be a healer
of the soul and the body.
He gives inner freedom.
What I might desire:
That I may see how I am dependent on Jesus.
That I can follow Him in His liberating actions.
Prayer:
In this moment I come to You,
my God,
still and full of reverence
gratefully knowing that You know me,
completely,
that You are waiting for me
and longing for me,
as my heart longs for You….
And everything becomes still.
Music: Come to me, all who are weary. St Louis Jesuits
Chorus:
Come unto me, all who are weary,
and find rest for your soul.
Come to me, them who are burdened
you shall learn from me.
Take my yoke upon your shoulders.
Do not be afraid.
For I will gently teach you
of the ways of the Lord.
Chorus
I have come not for the strong
but for sinners frail.
The powerless shall be favoured
in the eyes of the Lord.
Chorus
You shall come to know secret things
hidden from the wise.
And children shall be rulers
in the land of the Lord.
Chorus
Spotify Link:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6FaoPXenY71DBzkDvtKIYZ?si=55f9fa2aae154887
Attention! The link takes you to track 12 on the first CD of the album. This is an error and you need to scroll down to track 12 on the second CD.
YouTube Link:
MarK 2, 1-12 Jesus Heals a Paralytic
2 When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3 Then some people[a] came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
I place myself in front of the building where Jesus is staying and I observe the crowds who are streaming towards Him. I see how four people are also trying to get to Jesus: not for themselves but for the paralyzed man they are carrying. Who are those people? Friends? Family? A loved one, maybe? I see how much trouble they are taking to get the paralyzed man through the crowds. Full of perseverance, they don’t give up. Why, I wonder? What is motivating these four people?
4 And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
I look at Jesus. The roof above his head has been removed and four people lower a paralyzed man down in front of Him. He sees their faith in Him but he also sees the effort these people have gone to in order to bring the paralyzed man to Him. What effect does all this have on Jesus? What do I feel when I look at what is happening here with my full attention?
6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.”
Jesus says: “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?”. Why do they think in this way, actually? Do I also think like this sometimes? With thoughts which do not come from love but stem from my desire to stick to the rules or laws: even ‘good’ rules and laws?
12 And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
When people act purely from love, miracles happen. And people are amazed and touched and praise God. I look at the little miracles in my own life which have happened because of love. Can I glorify and praise God or Jesus and give thanks for so many good things in my life?
Music: Come to me, all who are weary. St Louis Jesuits