March 9, 2022 (Lent Week 1)

 

 

Jesus Healing the Sick - a painting by John Laudermilch

 
Mark 1:29-45

Do you ever fret over the well-being of your loved ones? I sure do! I worry about them in every sense. Are they lonely? Are they taking care of themselves physically and emotionally? How are they going to cope financially with the higher cost of everything these days? How is their spiritual health? I haven’t seen them at church lately. I wonder if they’re watching online? I hope they’re taking time for prayer. It goes on and on. And usually these thoughts start to cross my mind just as my head hits the pillow for the evening. It certainly keeps me tossing and turning some nights.

As I read today’s Gospel in Mark, I immediately relate to all of the people who brought their loved ones to Jesus for healing. I’m sure the journey to get to Him was a logistical challenge for many. In many cases I’m sure the sick were either too weak or perhaps even resistant to going to see Jesus for help. Yet the faithful trusted in Him to take care of their precious families and friends … and we can too.

Though we can’t scoop up our loved ones and carry them to a nearby village where Jesus is healing the hurting, we can always bring our loved ones to Him. We can invite our loved ones to church, a Bible study (perhaps of the Lenten variety?) and invite Jesus into our conversations. We can use our lives to point to Jesus in all circumstances. And of course, we can bring them to Him in prayer. Bringing our loved ones to Jesus is the single most important thing we can do to love our family and friends. We can rest in the knowledge that Jesus knows and loves our beloved and he is already there with them, extending a helping, healing hand, in each and every hurdle and challenge.

May you find peace in Him on your sleepless nights,

- Wendy Doherty
 
 

 

 

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