Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: December 11, 2023

Date:   Monday of the 2nd Week of Advent

 Scripture Text:  Luke 5:17-26

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "As for you, your sins are forgiven."Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies?Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, "What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"– he said to the one who was paralyzed, "I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home."He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, "We have seen incredible things today."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

 The gospel for today brings us the account from the Gospel of Luke of Jesus’ healing of the paralytic who was lowered from the roof. The persistence of those bringing the paralytic is to be commended. Jesus was impressed by their faith. However, the scribes and Pharisees present took exception to Jesus’ words. In response, Jesus healed the paralytic. And “astonishment seized them all and they glorified God.” This rarely happens, that “all” are moved; in most instances in the Gospel text, the skeptics remain skeptical and usually seek ways to trick Jesus or render him powerless in some way.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

How persistent am I when trying to bring the needs of others to Christ? 

Praying:

LORD, Jesus Christ, You came among us as our brother. You cared for those You encountered; You healed them of their infirmities and forgave them of their sins. We come to You this day bringing our needs as well as the needs of others. Help us, LORD, by sending your Spirit to strengthen our compassion for others and our persistence in bringing them and their needs to You, loving LORD. Grant that we may become the disciples You call us to be. Amen.