May 26, 2025
Good morning,
MARK 2:1-12
Read it slowly, and twice.
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Since 2007, the year of my heart attack, this has been my favourite Bible verse. In the last five years, it has faded from my faith story and journey. At first I was the healed man hanging in the middle of the air in the house before Jesus touched him. I am still in need of healing every day, but it is not as intense. So, I need a new set of verses or a book of the Bible. In my life, I have focused on the creation story in Genesis 1, the book of Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Luke at different times. I have needed a different focus over the years of my faith. At one point, the story that shaped my faith was Pilate and Jesus. Their conversation went through my brain often.
So, I need a new beginning. I am retired from ministry. Would you help me think of a new story from a book of the Bible ? Where do you go for inspiration, prayer or action ? Please share with me your ideas. I value your faith, and your insights. Below is a picture I took near St. Jacobs yesterday morning. Photography, walking, reading, cross stitch are part of my creative relationship with myself and God. Please take a few weeks to think about my request, and offer me words of your faith. I am planning to decide on the week of June 8.
Blessings of shalom and strength for our journey together. GAZA.
Fred
black and white shadows
crush humanity’s freedom
am I complicit ? MPL 2025
Ponder Anew 