Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26
This week the prophecies from Isaiah become more hopeful and less critical of our short-comings. I find that a welcomed relief.
Of course, that does not get us off the hook and I’d be as stupid as I’d be irresponsible to forget the impact of last week’s admonitions.
I feel that the Gospel provides a realistic model, describing as it does, that the power of the Lord was with [Jesus] for healing. At the same time, it’s clear that he’s surrounded by as much opposition as by trust and hope in him. The opposition doesn’t stop him and, in the long run, the outcome won’t be in his favor. But Jesus’ hope isn’t in his survival but in communicating God’s mercy, healing and truth. Jesus attests to that.
If we are truly his followers, that’s our hope, too: not a happy ending, but communicating God’s mercy, healing and truth. Isn’t that worth the sacrifice?
Peggy Anderson says
I like the thought. And I immediately go to another important ingredient in communicating God’s mercy, healing and truth: an ongoing relationship with the Lord; both are very worth the sacrifice.