Mark 2:1-12

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

2When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. ²So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. ³Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. ⁴And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ ⁶Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ⁷‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ ⁸At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? ⁹Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? ¹⁰But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— ¹¹‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ ¹²And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’

Here is the NRSV Gospel-Based Discipleship passage for today. Here is what I get out of it (of course when I say "you" I am talking to myself here). Be determined in your faith. Don't hesitate to ask for what you know God can do. Don't be afraid of the crowd's reaction to your faith-based actions. You may have to get creative like going through the roof, but go for it. God is there if you can just make it through the "crowd" of your daily worries and stresses and distractions and make your way to Him.

New Link to NRSV

I've been reading the daily office lectionary each day so far this advent. I've found that if I look it up online, I can read it and refer to it several times each day, whenever I come back to the computer. I think this will help me keep up with this activity more easily than if I were using a hand-held Bible. Only problem is that Bible Gateway doesn't have the translation of the Bible that our church uses. I like being able to read it in several versions, but I really wanted to be able to see the NRSV as one of them. So thanks to Father John Gibson, I have a new link to the NRSV, and I'm posting it with my links at the side of this blog. The website is called Oremus Bible Browser.

Gospel Based Discipleship

I received a booklet from our diocese with Gospel readings for each day of the church year. Yesterday was the first day of the church year - the first day of Advent. I really want to read and reflect on these this year. I know I won't be disciplined enough to read each day, but I will strive to do that. I really want to develop a discipline of reading and reflecting on scripture every day. I currently do it so haphazardly. So we'll see how it goes. Yesterday's reading was Matthew 25:1-13 and today's is Luke 20:1-8. There is nothing listed in the booklet like questions to help reflect on the passages. I'll just have to reflect on my own. I am looking forward to it.

Time to Get Religious Again

Since it's been over a month since I posted anything on this blog I shall try again now.

I am friends with people of very diverse views about religion. Some are very strong, conservative Christians. Others consider themselves liberal Christians. Many are moderates like me. Others do not consider themselves religious at all. I admit I don't have many close relationships with people who are of different religions. How can all of these viewpoints be correct? And some of them are so certain they are right. I know God is bigger than all of that and all of us, but it can really bother me that we, God's creation, can't just get along. We have a need to point blame at others as "the bad guys" - those conservatives, those liberals. This has to do with religion and politics too, I suppose. I think the bottom line is to love and serve each other no matter what, if we believe in God. And I have one friend who claims not to believe in God at all. I often find myself feeling caught in the middle. Sometimes I have to come out and say I am not a biblical literalist and I have liberal-ish social values to my conservative friends. And sometimes I have to come out and say I'm a Christian to my liberal friends, even though they might not want to talk about religion or though they may find Christians to be close-minded. In the process of being true to myself, I find myself liberal, moderate, and conservative all at once - depending on to whom or what I am comparing myself. This can make me quite dizzy and uncomfortable. But I am on a quest to be true to myself, down to the core of how God created me and of who God desires for me to be. So I'll stop and rest when I get too dizzy, I guess. I trust that I will figure out what matters to the best of my ability, and what I never come to understand is not necessary on my life's journey.

Being Still

The children's choir that I direct is singing an anthem called "Be Still and Know that I am God". Funny, how the words to that anthem have been out there in front of my face all along. Being still is really difficult for me. Not physically - I can easily stop moving and put up my feet any time. However, mentally being still is absolutely difficult. The words of the song (without the repeated parts) are: "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the earth. I am always with you. I will be your strength." I don't know where that scripture is, but the words are very appropriate for my life. I guess like everything else, being still takes practice and discipline to practice. Another opportunity for spiritual growth is at hand.

Here's today's verse: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”- Psalm 19:14

Verse of the Day

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”- Proverbs 27:1

This is Bible Gateway's verse of the day. I like going to the site and seeing what the verse of the day is. It gives me something to think about. Reading this verse makes me feel humble and grateful.

What is it?

I'm looking for what's coming. I sense there is something new coming my way that will be an opportunity for ministry to others while also being energizing for me. Maybe something that will bring in some money? How do I discern it? There have been some opportunities that I believe are not what I'm looking for. Just stay the course. Bloom where you have been planted. Keep the faith. Share God's love. Trust. Keep watch. Be patient. All in God's time. What if what's coming my way is more of the same? Just got to do the best I can.

Here's the verse of the day: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”- Philippians 2:3-4

Not sure how to take that, actually. I'll keep pondering.