J esus came to bring us the abundant life of God's kingdom (John 10:10). But that new life and transformation can be stifled by unbelief, indifference, and sinful pride. Sin cripples us far more than any physical ailment can. Sin is the work of the kingdom of darkness and it holds us in eternal bondage. There is only one solution and that is the healing, cleansing power of Jesus' forgiveness.

Monday of the Second Week in Advent

Isaiah 35:1-10

Psalm 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14

L uke 5:17-26  On one of those days, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. (18) And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they sought to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; (19) but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.  (20) And when he saw their faith he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." (21) And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins but God only?"  (22) When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? (23) Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk?' (24) But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he said to the man who was paralyzed-- "I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home." (25) And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God. (26) And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen strange things today."

Meditation by Don Schwager

Is there anything in your life that keeps you from receiving the blessings of God's kingdom? The prophets fortold that when the Messiah came to usher in God's kingdom the blind would see, the deaf hear, and the lame walk (Isaiah 35:5-6). Jesus not only brought physical healing, but healing of mind, heart, and soul as well. Jesus came to bring us the abundant life of God's kingdom (John 10:10). But that new life and transformation can be stifled by unbelief, indifference, and sinful pride. Sin cripples us far more than any physical ailment can. Sin is the work of the kingdom of darkness and it holds us in eternal bondage. There is only one solution and that is the healing, cleansing power of Jesus' forgiveness.

Jesus' treatment of sinners upset the religious teachers of the day. When a cripple was brought to Jesus because of the faith of his friends, Jesus did the unthinkable. He first forgave the man his sins. The scribes regarded this as blasphemy because they understood that only God had authority to forgive sins and to unbind a man or woman from their burden of guilt. Jesus claimed an authority which only God could rightfully give. Jesus not only proved that his authority came from God, he showed the great power of God's redeeming love and mercy by healing the cripple of his physical ailment. This man had been crippled not only physically, but spiritually as well. Jesus freed him from his burden of guilt and restored his body as well. The Lord is ever ready to bring us healing of body, mind, and soul. His grace brings us freedom from the power of sin and from bondage to harmful desires and addictions. Do you allow anything to keep you from Jesus' healing power?

"Lord Jesus, through your merciful love and forgiveness you bring healing and restoration to body, soul, and mind. May your healing power and love touch every area of my life – my innermost thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and memories. Pardon my offences and transform me in the power of your Holy Spirit that I may walk confidently in your truth and righteousness."

Supplementary Reading

IT’S No BoTHER

What do you want me to do for you? – Luke 18:41

“It’s the Christmas break. I didn’t want to bother you,” a sister in our prayer community told me.

She got sick and was confined in the hospital for two days during our Christmas vacation but didn’t even inform us.

The holiday is also a break for our prayer community. We spend the whole year holding prayer meetings, council and caring group meetings, attending community-wide activities, not to mention organizing new prayer groups, counselling, visiting institutions for the poor, those in prison, and yes, those who are sick, and praying over them.

Thus, we welcome the holiday break as a much-deserved time of rest for all of us. But I told my friend, “It wouldn’t have been a bother for us to visit you.”

In today’s Gospel, busy as He was, Jesus stopped to heal the blind man. Note, however, that He first asked what the blind man wanted from Him.

Yes, God is just waiting for us to ask Him what it is we want from Him. He has given us free will, which means that He doesn’t barge into our affairs uninvited. But it is certainly no bother for Him to give us help when we ask for it. -- Cynthia Santiago

REFLECTION:

Ask and you shall receive. (Matthew 7:8)

Father, I ask to humbly come to You, to bask in Your great love for me, every day.

• 12/04/2009 23:36 - Dec 12, 2009 - Saturday Meditation (Prepare the Way - Turn Away from Sin!)
• 12/04/2009 23:34 - Dec 11, 2009 - Friday Meditation (Indifference - Dulls our Ears to God's Voice!)
• 12/04/2009 23:32 - Dec 10, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Burdened? Let's Ask JESUS for Help!)
• 12/04/2009 23:30 - Dec 9, 2009 - Wednesday Meditation (Find REST in JESUS!)
• 12/04/2009 23:27 - Dec 8, 2009 - Tuesday Meditation : FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

• 11/29/2009 14:21 - Dec 6, 2009 - Sunday Meditation (Fill the Valleys of Disappointment with Trust and Hope in Jesus!)
• 11/29/2009 14:19 - Dec 5, 2009 - Saturday Meditation (The Best of All is, GOD IS WITH US!)
• 11/29/2009 14:18 - Dec 4, 2009 - Friday Meditation (Put our Faith and Trust in EL SHADDAI - LET GOD, LET GO!)
• 11/29/2009 14:17 - Dec 3, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Invest on Things That Last... and that is JESUS!)
• 11/29/2009 14:15 - Dec 2, 2009 - Wednesday Meditation (Jesus Alone can Satisty the Deepest Longing and Hunger of Man)