Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 HEALING THROUGH WORSHIP

Luke 13: 10 -17
 
Vs 13: And he  laid his hands upon her and immediately she was made straight and glorified God
 
 

This woman has been suffering from chronic physical disability for 18 years. But with the boldness of faith that does not falter in the crises of life, she attends worship in the church and Christ heals her.
What do we see in this incident?
 
 1. Unlimited faith in the midst of limitations
Faith is not a means to fulfill our wish and cure our disease.  In the midst of chronic illness and crushing life experiences, constant devotion is bringing her to temple.
 
The sickness or the unanswered prayers of 18 years does not prevent her  from worship and temple .The humiliation of the people around did not fade her faith.
Even though she became a display object of ugliness, the church is an integral part of life her life.
It is not a faith that goes off in the fires of neglect and rejection. Faith is the inner light that holds up in any situation.
Let us examine ourselves. How many times we stopped going to church for silly reasons.?
Don't we sometimes stop going to church because we have not been elected to the committee for a year? 
 
 2. The church is the place which helps to change the directions of life.
The touch of Jesus is becoming a healing experience in this woman's life.  Church officials shout at the act of healing because in their view it is not worthy to heal a crippled woman. 
Worship  must change our directions.  Divine visions change our views and perspectives.
Spiritual and  worldly visions should be clear through  worship. For people those who are not able to face the threatening issues of life, Church must be an empowerment. God keeps away the worship that does not share the sorrows of those around it.
 
 3. The Sabbath is redefined with a re-reading of freedom. 
 The Sabbath signifies making perfect of the imperfect.  The divine principle  Christ teaches is that God can never rest when creation is imperfect. Christ calls this unnamed woman the daughter of Abraham. Christ set her free to see as others see and to enjoy the rights of others. If the Son sets you free, you will be truly free. Christ is leading the rigid hearts of the people who have been crippled by the ritual practices to a new understanding .  We need  to redefine our visions of humanity as we lose our conscience in rituals.

 
PRAYER
Lord  allow us to submit  and surrender to you completely  in our worship and experience  the power of healing for our body and soul .
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Through praise God allows his children to tap into his presence where we can avail his numerous promises that includes healing also.
 
Rev. Johnson Abraham
The Mar Thoma Church Staten island

Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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