Along the Bank of the River

~~~ Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 ~~~ Psalm 46 ~~~ John 5:1-16 ~~~

Water seems to be the focus for both readings today.

The prophet Ezekiel tells of being led deeper 

and deeper into the water.

The angel coaxes him to keep walking into the water 

with each step it rises around him...

first ankle deep, then knee deep, waist deep

until it is too deep to keep walking.

 ...the water had risen so high it had become a river

that could not be crossed except by swimming.

There is no nearby bridge to cross this river.

The angel guides him to sit on the river bank 

where the richness and abundance of God is revealed.

Everywhere this water flows beauty and life flourish.

It is a perfect picture of God's goodness.

Stopping to sit alongside the river gives the angel 

a chance to spotlight all that is good because 

of the flowing water...the rising waters.

It would be good for us to also stop and rest 

awhile in the goodness of God.

When the waters of life are rising all around us...

When we want to escape...

When we fear death by drowning is eminent...

pause for a moment, let the serenity of God calm your soul. 

God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed...

Jesus passes by the crippled man sitting near the pool of healing water.

Jesus has noticed him on previous occasions, but

today Jesus initiates conversation with this man.

“Do you want to be well?”

The answer might seem obvious to us but does this man

truly want to be healed or is he resigned

to remain a victim of his illness.

Jesus' question invites this man to claim his healing.

The moment he decides to claim his healing 

he is able to pick up his mat and walk away.

At first the man thought to be healed 

he had to first get into the pool of water.

Then he brought me to the bank of the river, 

where he had me sit.

Along the bank of the river

 I saw very many trees on both sides.

What this man realized was that his desire 

needed to be aligned with the desire 

Jesus had for him to be healed.

Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath which 

was technically forbidden.

According to Jewish law

 one is not allowed to 'work' on that day.

Healing and carrying a mat were in effect breaking the law.

When are you most likely to extend joy to another?

Why would something so important as healing 

a person not be allowed?

This man no longer needed to remain near the pool.

Now he could take his only belonging, his mat,

and go back to his home.

Jesus is near to all those who are in need of his healing.

Jesus is here for you in your time of distress.

He blesses us every day.

~~~Peace~~~

What is Around the Next Corner?

~~~ Ephesians 4:32-5:8 ~~~ Psalm 1 ~~~ Luke 13:10-17 ~~~

Live as children of light. 
Let no one deceive you with empty arguments...

The elders of the synagogue wanted to dictate
when those seeking healing would be allowed access.
Their intention was to harness the healing power of God...Jesus.
They wanted to parameters upon the powers of God,
which of course no human can do.

In their desire to be in control they attack
 Jesus for breaking the Jewish law of the Sabbath rest.

If this were to be enforced today our hospitals
 which virtually shut down every Sunday.
No one would receive care on Sundays...
not even an emergency room would be open.
Consider how many people would potentially die if they
could not receive medical care on Sunday.

Luckily this is not the case today.

Medical care is administered
twenty four hours a day seven days a week.

There is however, one thing that still lingers, cited in today's Gospel.

The crippled woman who presented herself
after eighteen years of suffering probably
 had some form of osteoporosis.
She was unable to stand upright.

This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now...

This belief that sickness is caused
 by Satan still lingers among us today.
Some continue to believe that sickness
 is even a punishment for their sins.

A woman I dearly love is actually anxious
 if her life is going too smoothly.
She is of the opinion that something bad
 is coming in the near future.

This fear actually robs her
 of relishing the blessings she has in her life.
We should not live every day trying to anticipate
 what is around the next corner.

Even illness, as you know,
has the potential to bring forth goodness.
Physical illness can bring healing within the heart.

The elders were trying to set their own boundaries
 around Jesus and that will never be possible.
There are no boundaries within which
 you can keep the power of God.

They failed to deceive Jesus with their idle empty words.
Jesus healed the woman by fulling the spirit of the word.
Jesus healed the woman because of his great capacity for compassion.
Jesus healed this woman because she asked for his healing.

Jesus brought light into our world of darkness.
We are to live as children of light.
To live as children of the light we must be open,
we must not even attempt to put fences around God's power.

If Satan curses people with afflictions here on Earth,
which we personally ignore,
 he will not prevail.

Light disperses all darkness.
Jesus is the light...he heals through the light of the Father.
Satan, who is darkness, cannot win.

We are Blessed with the Light of Christ.
Live as Children of this Light.
~~~Peace~~~