Word for the day by Christian Educator Forum

-
Just Keep Standing!!!
St. John 5: 1-9 
Dr. Rick Rigsby, a motivational speaker shares how his Dad, a third grade dropout and a cook who inspired him all his life especially during the death of his beloved wife due to breast cancer. He comes to him when he was stranded near the casket with three words, “Son!, Just keep standing!” . Our Savior mentions to us this morning that whoever are, stuck, struck, stranded and saturated in certain painful/miserable circumstances to “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” It could be abandonment, bitterness, betrayal, depression, disappointments, frustrations and many such as these.
 In this beautiful miracle narrative, A paralytic man was waiting near the pool as a disabled person for the last 38 years, looking out for able people to help him to have an experience in the pool of healing formulated by blind beliefs and attachments. The name of the pool is said to be derived from the Hebrew language  Beth hesda , meaning either house of mercy or house of grace. In both Hebrew and Aramaic the word could also mean "shame, disgrace". This dual meaning may have been thought appropriate, since the location was seen as a place of disgrace due to the presence of invalids, and as a place of grace due to the granting of healing.[1]. Jesus urges himself out of compassion to initiate and intervene so as to bring meaning to the place and person.
 The intervention of Jesus turns the atmosphere of blind faith into real faith encounter with God and the journey of resentment into restoration. Our real faith in Jesus according to the will of God removes all mediations towards our physical, mental and spiritual needs. Ignorance of our own abilities is a disability in itself and as restored people, we need to extend and share the wellness to needy and neglected. We live in a world that everything and everyone does not revolve around the term, “All is Well”. There are so many who need our empathetic initiative and graceful intervention, just like our Master reflected when he was with us. 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Are we standing or stranded???

PRAYER
Lord, strengthen me to turn life journeys of resentment into restoration.

Rev. Thomas Kurian, Mar Thoma Church of Oklahoma.

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more