Suggested Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6: 10 – 20
Scripture Emphasis Luke 4:41 “When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them”.
Dr. Viktor Frankl, world famous neurologist and psychiatrist, as well as a Holocaust survivor, in his book ” The Doctor And The Soul,” issues a thought-provoking edict.” The greatest realities for all of us to find are in what we consider as passed! ” Things and experiences that have been, are secure from the uncertainties of the future, and the incompleteness of the present. They have been, and nothing can change that”! Dr. Frankl draws liberally from the horrors of experiences in several Nazi death camps to introduce to the world a revolutionary approach to psychotherapy known as logotheraphy. (1`)
Every person, according to Frankl, is in the process of writing a unique story. In the progression of any person’s life, there is nothing that happens in vain. The content of one’s life-story is somewhere preserved and saved, even though it may not be in an immediate recall to consciousness.
Applying this premise to the unfolding of people’s experience with Jesus, the Master of Life, let us consider the lasting effects upon character building which this affords.
There was never a greater need than that which is our own, to remember ‘The Rock from whence we are hewn. (Isaiah 51: 1 – 3). Recall again now the whispers of God coming from as far away as earliest childhood. Recall the day when you saw, for the first time, the picture of Jesus surrounded by children wanting to climb into His arms. Capture again your feeling of being right there and waiting your turn! The poet William Wordsworth reminds us that during early childhood years, Heaven is close at hand.
Present day challenges are not meeting their match in some stained glass image of the Christ that used to be! NO experience is ever forgotten nor does it happen in vain! When there throbs throughout our lives, the vitality of a living union with Jesus Christ, then the dark, demonic forces of the age are overcome. Therefore it is of critical importance that each one of us takes care to record their daily involvement with Him in the present tense.
Every person, according to Frankl, is in the process of writing a unique story. In the progression of any person’s life, there is nothing that happens in vain. The content of one’s life-story is somewhere preserved and saved, even though it may not be in an immediate recall to consciousness.
Applying this premise to the unfolding of people’s experience with Jesus, the Master of Life, let us consider the lasting effects upon character building which this affords.
There was never a greater need than that which is our own, to remember ‘The Rock from whence we are hewn. (Isaiah 51: 1 – 3). Recall again now the whispers of God coming from as far away as earliest childhood. Recall the day when you saw, for the first time, the picture of Jesus surrounded by children wanting to climb into His arms. Capture again your feeling of being right there and waiting your turn! The poet William Wordsworth reminds us that during early childhood years, Heaven is close at hand.
Present day challenges are not meeting their match in some stained glass image of the Christ that used to be! NO experience is ever forgotten nor does it happen in vain! When there throbs throughout our lives, the vitality of a living union with Jesus Christ, then the dark, demonic forces of the age are overcome. Therefore it is of critical importance that each one of us takes care to record their daily involvement with Him in the present tense.
For our present purpose, I choose Luke’s record of a people’s experience of the compassionate Christ, in the healing of their sick and troubled. ( Luke 4: 38 – 41)
Luke’s record of the healing that occurred in Capernaum one evening at sunset, is now our focus.
The first captivating feature in the story is the arrival of
‘ the Mercy Crew’ at Simon Peter’s door, bearing the sick and the helpless ones. There was an essential communications effort launched in the community to inform the family and friends of the afflicted, that Jesus was in town, and that He was at the home of Simon Peter. The initiative for undertaking the action that follows has to be a previous knowledge of the ability, the willingness and the compassion of Jesus to make a difference. There was something akin to a phantom-like Presence that refused to permit pity to be the single response to human suffering. Somewhere internally, there is hidden in each participant of the “Mercy Crew” the wisdom that this Man, Jesus, would make a difference, not only to their friends’ debilitating dilemmas but He would as well, introduce them to the source of new beginnings. Nothing that happens in any person’s life ever happens in vain! Whatever other personal details in the life’s story of the ‘Mercy Crew’ may be in the permanent record, the records will show any and all encounters with Christ that inspired their present activity.
The next captivating focus in Luke’s record involves a group collectively identified as having” various kinds of sickness.” But let it be stressed again, that each person there is daily recording his own story. Reminiscent of Viktor Frankl’s experience, some will recall the pain, deprivation, and desperate loneliness resulting from their imprisonment by their disease. Others in the company will remember the fellowship discovered in suffering. But if it is true that nothing which happens to an individual is ever meaningless, or in vain; what meaning or value can human suffering possibly have? If there are details that we could choose not to appear in the story of our lives, destined to last forever, let it be the memory of pain and brokenness!
But Wait! This story is just beginning! The main feature of the story captures the most significant revelation of all! Luke’s record announces a breathtaking possibility: there is a way to rewrite your personal story from a different perspective. The fact of individual sufferings and their indelible mark on the psyche, and even the body may remain in the permanent record somewhere preserved. To know the Presence of the Living God in your life, however, is synonymous with having the Company of the greatest Story Teller in the world beside you, helping with the rewriting of your life’s mission! In His Company, scars can tell a life-changing story of Love; and disfiguring thorns, which He can weave into a crown of glory. They can shed new light upon adverse situations that are causing pain to others even yet.
Somewhere there is recorded an account of a mother whose face, hands and arms bore disfiguring scars. One evening, as part of a nightly routine, she is holding her increasingly inquisitive child close, as she finishes a bed-time story, that spoke about loving people. ” Mommy,” the child interjects, ” I love you so very, very much! But Mommy, I don’t love the way your face, and hands and arms look! They almost make me afraid.”
It was time now; the mother realized, to do what she had been thinking of doing for some time. Taking a deep breath, she began: ” When you were a very tiny baby sleeping in your crib upstairs, one evening the horrifying cry, ” fire, fire,” rang throughout our house.” God helped me through the smoke and flames and, He put you in my arms, and brought us out to safety. But ever since that night I have looked like this. In hushed tones, the little one whispered:
It was time now; the mother realized, to do what she had been thinking of doing for some time. Taking a deep breath, she began: ” When you were a very tiny baby sleeping in your crib upstairs, one evening the horrifying cry, ” fire, fire,” rang throughout our house.” God helped me through the smoke and flames and, He put you in my arms, and brought us out to safety. But ever since that night I have looked like this. In hushed tones, the little one whispered:
” Mommy, I love you so very, very much, but I love your beautiful face, your hands, and your arms most of all. Mommy let’s say thank -you to God, all over again”.
Write the next chapter of your life’s story with Christ present, then will it count forever as” a thing of beauty and a joy forever.” ( John Keats)
A PRAYER TO FOLLOW THIS MEDITATION
Merciful Father, You created us to bear striking resemblance to Yourself and therefore, made each of us hold endless quantities of love, pity, mercy, and grace, within our being. In Jesus Christ our Lord, You demonstrated how exactly the flood gates to such resources are to be opened, in order to permit its contents to surge into the world with re-creating force.
It takes real courage to strip away the veil that hides our identity as bearing any resemblance to ‘God.’ Give us courage; give us steadfast confidence to let others see God in us, we ask You.
It takes Love to treat people as they might yet become, rather than what they appear to be when we meet them for the first time. Open wide the gates of our Love, and never let us delay to first consider a person’s worthiness, based upon their creed or their color or condition.
It takes human lips, ” moving at the impulse of God’s love,” to give expression to the expanses of God’s mercy and pity! The overflowing reservoir of gifts within a person is never for one’s own satisfaction! It is never enough to be moved to tears at the sight of another’s misfortunes, when within us there dwells the Christ who never remains silent and does nothing in the face of injustice and suffering! Lord, show mercy upon us all; we humbly beseech You!
Open our eyes to see You, Our hearts to love You, and our minds to comprehend You; that by seeing you, our faith may grow, our hearts may bring Your victory to the world; our minds may firmly establish You above the darkness of doubt and fears, among the people of this world. We pray in the Name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
It takes real courage to strip away the veil that hides our identity as bearing any resemblance to ‘God.’ Give us courage; give us steadfast confidence to let others see God in us, we ask You.
It takes Love to treat people as they might yet become, rather than what they appear to be when we meet them for the first time. Open wide the gates of our Love, and never let us delay to first consider a person’s worthiness, based upon their creed or their color or condition.
It takes human lips, ” moving at the impulse of God’s love,” to give expression to the expanses of God’s mercy and pity! The overflowing reservoir of gifts within a person is never for one’s own satisfaction! It is never enough to be moved to tears at the sight of another’s misfortunes, when within us there dwells the Christ who never remains silent and does nothing in the face of injustice and suffering! Lord, show mercy upon us all; we humbly beseech You!
Open our eyes to see You, Our hearts to love You, and our minds to comprehend You; that by seeing you, our faith may grow, our hearts may bring Your victory to the world; our minds may firmly establish You above the darkness of doubt and fears, among the people of this world. We pray in the Name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
HYMN: When I Survey The Wondrous Cross( click on the link)
EDITORIAL NOTES
1. The Scripture references in this meditation are taken from the NIV ( New International Version) of Scripture.
2.”The Doctor And The Soul” by Viktor Frankl .https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doctor_and_the_Soul
3. PHOTO: from General Stock Images For Lent