A great prophet has appeared among us;
God has visited his people. LK 7:16
HEBREWS 4:1-5,11
My Soul's Beloved,
This is my great sorrow, my Lord, that those I love so dearly here on earth may be lost, and may not enter the place of rest that God has prepared for His children. Despite the great Sacrifice of Redemption that was wrought by You, our God, and our Redeemer, some, like the children of Israel who rebelled against the Lord died in the desert and did not enter the Promised Land that God promised to their Father Abraham.
The writer of this letter to the Hebrews gives us a stark stern warning that although the promise holds good for all God's people, yet, we cannot be saved without faith and without living a life surrendered wholly to doing and accepting God's will for our lives and keeping the commandments.
It is most consoling to know Lord, that it is never too late for conversion. Never too late to turn to God and offer to You, O Lord, a humble heart and a contrite spirit. We are comforted and reassured by the Word of God, the Eternal Word of the Father, that 'A humble contrite heart, you will not spurn.'
We, however, who have faith, shall reach a place of rest, as in the text: And so, in anger, I swore that not one would reach the place of rest I had for them. God’s work was undoubtedly all finished at the beginning of the world; as one text says, referring to the seventh day: After all his work God rested on the seventh day. The text we are considering says: They shall not reach the place of rest I had for them. We must therefore do everything we can to reach this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of disobedience and be lost.
PSALM 77(78):3-4,6-8
Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
The things we have heard and understood,
the things our fathers have told us,
these we will not hide from their children
but will tell them to the next generation:
the glories of the Lord and his might
and the marvellous deeds he has done.
the things our fathers have told us,
these we will not hide from their children
but will tell them to the next generation:
the glories of the Lord and his might
and the marvellous deeds he has done.
They too should arise and tell their sons
that they too should set their hope in God
and never forget God’s deeds
but keep every one of his commands.
and never forget God’s deeds
but keep every one of his commands.
So that they might not be like their fathers,
a defiant and rebellious race,
a race whose heart was fickle,
whose spirit was unfaithful to God.
a defiant and rebellious race,
a race whose heart was fickle,
whose spirit was unfaithful to God.
Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
MARK 2:1-12
My Soul's Beloved,
My Soul's Beloved,
Today's Gospel passage is heartening for those of us who pray with a burden on our hearts for the conversion of those we love and care for so dearly. We sigh, we shed tears, we moan and groan for their salvation, and just as Your heart was touched by the friends of the paralytic so we believe that Your heart will also be moved by our prayers of petition for the salvation of those we love. You will touch, heal, and restore our loved ones who have lost the way, and desire to return, but are powerless to do so without help because of the serious obstacles in their path.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, and our Brother who desires that all be saved by the power of Your saving blood, I bring to You this day every man, woman, and child who is praying, interceding, and pleading with You night and day to save those they love so we will be united in eternity and together offer God unceasing praise and worship as we behold You face to face.
Help me not to lose heart, Lord. Help me to be as resourceful as the friends of the paralytic, and to do all I can to bring My loved ones to You so You may touch, heal, forgive, and restore them to perfect health in heart, mind, soul, body, and spirit. Thank You, Lord, that You long for all to be saved and hence will accept all prayers of petitions for the salvation of sinners because our prayers are in accord with the heart, mind, and will of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowd made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, ‘How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?’ Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, ‘Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he turned to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.’ And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’
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