WEEK EIGHT: MIRACLES, SIGNS OF THE KINGDOM DAY 4
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Mark 3: 10-11: The Compassion of Jesus: "He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, "You are the Son of God."
Read the Reflection; then pray using Mark 3: 10-11; ask for an intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely (#104)
1. Those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him: This is amazing good news! The people with diseases had no hope as their sicknesses were the result of sin, in the theological understanding that they had. In Jesus, they saw others who had experienced healing of their illnesses, and therefore, salvation or being loved and forgiven by God. It was their chance to experience healing and salvation from Jesus. So they pressed upon him to touch him, convinced that He would be their healing and salvation. The image of Jesus being touched and pressed upon brings out the central truth that He is indeed Emmanuel, God-with-us!
2. Unclean spirits would fall down before him and shout, "You are the Son of God": It is ironic that the unclean spirits begin heralding the dawning of the kingdom of God in and through Jesus, by acknowledging Him as the Son of God! Before Jesus who is God, they are powerless, and their reign of terror and evil over the minds and hearts of people is now coming to an end, because Jesus, the Messiah and Son of God, has appeared on this earth."
"Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5 I watched this morning as people were being drawn to Christ and the longing for healing. Jesus was there and it was their sin that He removes from them. What is it about the physical nature of touch? The desire within their hearts, knowing that Jesus is the answer to their afflictions. I may not be in the scene physically but spiritually as Jesus was walking in the throng of people, I was there, reaching out for Him.
What is God saying to you?
Dear Father, I thank You for this day and all its joys and pains, hopeful no pain but willingly accept what comes. I thank You for the desire in my heart to reach out to You, to experience Your loving touch. I ask for Your help this morning as we move closer to the Men's conference, bring about what You desire for that day, bring Your plans together Lord God. Prayers for Father Robert in the hospital, he is Your hands upon this earth, Your faithful servant, breath life into his lungs so he may continue being Your faithful servant in our midst. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Mary, Queen of Victory, Pray for us.
St Joesph, Hope of the Sick, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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