Sharing today’s Sunday sermon . I woke up this morning and my scripture reading was from Luke ch 5 about the paralysed man who was healed . Surprisingly the scripture reading in church was the same and the sermon based on this incident from the Bible . Have read it often and the only things that registered were the faith of the man , his 4 friends, Jesus’ compassionate forgiveness and healing.
The focus in the sermon was about the man and the men who brought him there . Who was the paralysed man ? Was he abandoned by family and friends, lying alone in a darkened home with no love, cheer or joy but only suffering ? And who were the four friends, maybe just random acquaintances who knew about his condition and came together to help ? Men who kept aside their priorities to fight the crowds and bring him to Jesus for healing ?
The priest went on to narrate Abdul Kalams’s experience at a sports event for mentally challenged children. During the running race, they all set off together, no one vying for first place but with a goal to finish the race together. When one of them fell and was left behind, they stopped as one and went back to pick him up and bring him with them to the finish line .
The teaching being that we should collectively uplift those amongst us who have fallen on hard times . So this Lenten, let us pray to be like one of the four friends who carried the paralysed man, let our goal be to bring those who are lagging, to the finish line .
The Canaanite woman’s faith in Jesus 23 rd March
The gospel reading today was Mathew 15:21-28, about the Canaanite woman, a gentile woman’s faith in Jesus, a faith so strong, that she did not give up until He acknowledged her persistent, tenacious faith and healed her daughter.
Many of us have situations, turning us to God in prayer, especially for our children. Our faith should be unwavering, unstoppable even in the face of opposition and adversities. Praying constantly, not letting go, until we receive God’s favour for our children.
Sitting there, watching the young mothers, watching the old mothers, some praying earnestly, some seeking out their little children in the crowd, I realised, each of us is there to worship and ask God for His grace, especially on our hapless children . We bring our children those who comply, to church for God’s blessings and hope He will cover those not there, beneath the shadow of His wings .
Healing on the sabbath 30 th March .
Gospel Reading for today was Luke ch 13:10-17. A woman who was crippled by a spirit for 18 years, though bent and unable to straighten, still found faith and strength to visit a Sabbath meeting at the Synagogue where Jesus was teaching. She did not loudly pray or implore but still He saw and with compassion, touched her and healed her .
An amazing miracle for the woman and the people who witnessed it, except for the synagogue leader and teachers of the law who objected to any kind of work on the sabbath, even healing the sick . Jesus asked, what then of your work untying your animals from the stalls, to lead them to water, how much more then is this daughter of Abraham, who has to be freed from pain kept prisoned by satan for 18 years .
The previous Sunday we saw the Canaanite woman’s faith, her cry for mercy, above the din of those around her, above the demand of those who tried to quiet her, her persistence resulting in Jesus healing her daughter. Now we see another suffering woman, not crying out loud but just being there, to listen the Lord and His teachings. She was not there for the healing but to listen to His teachings. But the Lord saw her and in His compassion, healed her .
And then I learnt, it is not required to always pray aloud,it is sufficient to be in the presence of my Lord. Even if I am suffering, in agony, even if I do not see the light in my darkest moments, even if I do not know how to express my fears and anxieties, or cry out to Him, He will still see me, He will see my pain and heal my very being .
Mary Jacob 