The Journey 27: Transformation in the life of sick & suffering

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Read: John 5:1-18
It was on August 6th, 2011 that a San Diego resident Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, died  in an helicopter crash in Afghanistan which also claimed the lives of another 29 American soldiers. His funeral was held Rockford, Iowa where more than 1500  mourners attended the funeral. But what was the most poignant moment of the funeral was the scene where Jon close friend– his dog, Hawkeye also attended the funeral and he lay still along the side of the coffin of his departed friend. The picture shown below was taken by Lisa Pembleton, Tumilson’s cousin. A dog who expresses his deep love and faithfulness to his friend. A dog who expresses through his presence that he is also grieving and is would want to go to any extent to show how deep his love for his master and friend was. Do we as human beings able to share the feelings for our suffering brothers in the same way as Hawkeye did for his friend.
On Friday’s we meditate on how we can bring transformation in the life of the sick and the suffering people. Every people who goes through suffering and sickness goes through emotions that sometimes other people do not understand or comprehend. In the passage that we read for meditation we find that Jesus heals this man lying by the pool during the Sabath.  A day when according to the Jews was day of rest, a day set apart for the Lord. In many other passages of the Bible we find that Jesus consciously heals many people during Sabbath and this incurs wrath of the religious leaders of those time. What was the difference between the attitude of the religious leaders and Jesus with regards to the people who were suffering. The Pharisees and other religious leaders were also concerned about the suffering people, but for them alleviating the pain of the suffering people had certain boundaries and limits. On the contrary the concern and the empathy that Jesus expressed moved boundaries and laws. His focus was the person and how he could alleviate the suffering and bring healing to the person, even if it means to consciously take risk and go to any extent even if it antagonizes others. Hawkeye the dog showed that love for another person breaks all boundaries. Jesus teaches us that if we are contemplating to bring about healing and transformation in the life of the  suffering people it may entail us to go beyond certain man made boundaries and laws. Only when we are ready to cross those  boundaries do we truly become agents of transformation and healing in the life of the sick and the suffering. It is to such a vocation that Jesus calls all of us.
Does boundaries limit you to express concern for others?
For Further Study
1 Corinthians 1
1 Peter 5
 
Let us Pray: Dear God you taught us about love that is costly and sacrificial. But we often show love and concern that is not costly not sacrificial. Empower us to move to realm of sacrifice and pain that brings about healing. Amen

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