healing – onewhoponders

Pondering for Sunday, October 12, 2025

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 23: Year C

“Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”” (Luke 17: 19)

This is an amazing healing story. But it is also an amazing salvation story.

We have lepers calling out while maintaining their distance so as not to contaminate others. This was the requirement in those days regarding self-regulating leper communities. But these sick people are well aware of who Jesus is. As they see him they call out from a distance, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

It seems leprosy does not discriminate. Like other human ills, Cancer, Ebola, HIV and AIDS, and COVID; leprosy is an equal opportunity inflictor. We don’t know how many of the ten were Samaritans but we do know that at least one was. Jesus makes sure we know that while that, that destroys persons does not discriminate; neither does the salvation of God discriminate. All are welcome into the Salvation of God.

Salvation is different from healing. According to Fred B. Craddock, writing for “Interpretation: A Bible Commentary”: Luke, he says, “We have, then, a story of ten being healed and one being saved.” If I had a choice and could only pick one, healing of an earthly illness, or, the being saved into eternal life, I would not consider it a choice at all. Give me that eternal salvation please.

The Samaritan went back to Jesus out of gratitude for an earthly cure. He got more than he bargained for. He got salvation. He showed gratitude. He showed thanksgiving. His gratitude meant a lot to Jesus.

Prayers should be like the top and bottom pieces of bread of a sandwich. That is, we pray for something like safety during an approaching storm. We come out on the other side intact. We should then go back to prayer in thanksgiving to God for answering our prayer requests. To not do so makes us one of the nine that Jesus asks about; “Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?” The sandwich metaphor works as it has us to remember and be thankful for what God has done for us. This is an attitude of gratitude. Let us not just forget God when all is safe again. Let us not take God for granted. We need to be just as earnest in our giving thanks as we were in our asking for help.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray (Proper 23 The Sunday closest to October 12, BCP p. 234)

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Pondering for Friday, October 3, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Friday of Proper 21: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalm 107:1 to 32;
2^nd Kings 19:1 to 20; 1^st Corinthians 9:16 to 27; Matthew 8:1 to 17:

“When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And the servant was healed in that hour;” (Matthew 8:10 to 13).

It seems that our Lord Jesus was the first to bring the Good News to the Gentiles. Jesus is amazed at the faith of the centurion. The centurion compares the power of Jesus who can order diseases and evil spirits to depart, to his own human power to order soldiers around. He does this through his faith in Jesus.

In this Gospel reading Jesus heals leper, the servant of the centurion, Peter’s mother-in-law and a host of others brought to him later that same day. It makes no difference to Jesus whether the people are Jews or Gentiles, or men or women. Our Lord Jesus only needs someone in the mix to have faith. It could be the person in need or someone petitioning on behalf of a person in need. Our Lord Jesus uses our faith to heal us and those we love, and later, to save us and, hopefully to turn around those we love so that they too might be saved and meet Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in all eternity.

As we approach the Sabbath tonight, ponder about the strength of your faith. Do you put your whole trust in the healing power of Christ Jesus? Do you do this for yourself as well as for the healing of those you love? Our Lord Jesus is still looking for our faith in order to heal us and save us. Rest, this evening and tomorrow, in the sure and certain knowledge that God in Christ Jesus loves you regardless of your ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, nationality, or language, or even your faith tradition. God just loves us no matter what. Jesus explains that our connection and response to God is through our faith in God’s call on our lives. I believe this call was made manifest in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Acknowledge God this Sabbath.

Today we remember John Mott, Evangelist and Ecumenical Pioneer (October 3, 1955) and his information may be found at: John Mott.

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Most Heavenly and Holy Healer, increase our trust in Your healing powers as was the centurion whom we read in our sacred text for today. Make us aware of our total dependence on Your life-giving Spirit to sustain us in this life and the next, You O Christ, through whom we live and move and love and have our being: Amen.

Pondering for Friday, July 25, 2025

Daily office Reading for Friday of Proper 11: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 40 and 54; Evening, Psalm 51;
1^st Samuel 31:1 to 13; Acts 15:12 to 21; Mark 5:21 to 43:

“Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well:” (Mark 5:25 to 28).

In this Gospel account our Lord Jesus is on his way to attend to the daughter of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. While in route a woman of strong faith who has been suffering for a long time applied her faith to the healing goodness of Jesus and was healed even without him being aware. We can do the same. The healing goodness of Jesus is available to all of us still today. I have learned to call this incidental healing an unexpected opportunity. Most of us are busy. But let’s not be too busy to stop and help someone if we can.

After healing the woman, Jesus makes his way to the home of Jairus where doubters are poisoning the minds of others with their unbelief. “But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe:” (Mark 5: 36). Belief was what worked for the woman who was hemorrhaging. For extra faith-power Jesus took with him his own trusted believers. “He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James:” (Mark 5: 37). I call these three his executive counsel. These are the same three he takes with him on the Mount of Transfiguration and to other special occasions. With this added faith, he cures the little girl. Faith is the most powerful healing tool we have access to. We just need to use it more. Jesus even heals on the Sabbath. And while this occasion was not on the Sabbath, he is known to do so.

Today we remember St James the Apostle (July 24, 41) and his information may be found at: St. James the Apostle.

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

O Lord God, Creator and Lover of all souls, keep us ever mindful and attentive to those whom You place in our path in order that we might use our God-given gifts for their benefit. Also keep us ever mindful that You have equipped us with what we need for the care of our neighbor even when we are unawares in order that You might work through us to do Your deeds of power in our time. Amen.

Pondering for Monday, June 9, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Monday of Proper 5: Year 1

Morning, Psalms 56 and 57; Evening, Psalms 64 and 65;
Deuteronomy 30:1 to 10; 2^nd Corinthians 10:1 to 18; Luke 18:31 to 43:

“As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ Then he shouted, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.” (Luke 18:35 to 43)

Jesus had just finished telling the twelve about what was going to happen to him in Jerusalem but they couldn’t see it although they had their visual sight. This blind man asked what was happening and when he heard that it was Jesus, saw very clearly what was good for him to do regardless of the pushback from the crowd.

The crowd tried to hold him back but he was persistent, saying, “Have mercy on me.” Often we are denied the call of our faith through pressure from our friends, (social media, virtual or face to face). We must learn about what is good for us. We must strive to see clearly for this is how we are given our moral sight back.

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” What would you ask our Lord Jesus for if given the one opportunity? The blind man in our passage for today just wants to be back where he was when he could see and appreciate the difference between light and dark; sight and blindness; indeed, right and wrong. He said, ‘Lord, let me see again.

Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has saved you. Again, his cure was already in him just as ours is already in us, our faith. We must take our faith to the living Jesus who is waiting to do for us whatever we ask. This blind man did and, “Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God.” I wish we had his name. Are you following our Lord Jesus? Do we have your name?

Today we remember Columba, abbot of Iona and Missionary (June 9, 597) and his information may be found at: Columba.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Most Holy Lord Jesus, The Holy Spirit of God Incarnate, keep us mindful of Your promise to ask You for whatever good we might need and to ask with confidence knowing that You will satisfy our needs as may be best for us in order that we will also will care for our neighbors through You O Lord; Amen.

Pondering for Friday, May 23, 2025

Daily Office Readings for Friday of the 5^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 106:1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 106:19 to 48;
Wisdom 16:15 to17:1; Romans 14:13 to 23; Luke 8:40 to 56:

“He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8:48)

While Jesus was on his way to help Jairus’ daughter, he was touch by a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. This was an unintended healing. But more than that, this was an unexpected opportunity. I struggle with this term, “unexpected opportunity.” If I didn’t see it coming, and it wasn’t planned for, how can it be an opportunity? Well, Jesus teaches me how to handle unexpected opportunities.

It was an opportunity for Jesus to show that we already have it within ourselves, to heal ourselves. It is our faith. Jesus tells her (and us), that our faith makes us well. But we must realize that this woman “acted” on her faith. She got past those who were guarding Jesus; she let go of norms about touching a man she doesn’t know. She followed her faith against all odds to find healing.

I now realize that not only did Jesus show me how to deal with unexpected opportunities, The woman did also. What an unexpected opportunity to have our Lord Jesus come by when all other healings have failed. Now she, and we, have to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity and do something. She did, and we should. First, we must realize that our Lord Jesus is near us in our prayers. It is through the faith that is implanted in us that our prayers go forth and touch Jesus. We must drop any, and all thoughts that inhibit our faith impulse to pray. The faith that is in us will heal us.

Now is the time to expect the unexpected. Now is the time to make ourselves aware of the presence of our Savior and get close enough to touch him. As we approach our Sabbath downtime today, let us ponder about the healing faith that is in us. Let us reflect on the approach of Jesus in our lives and then be bold enough to prayerfully reach out to Him. Then, we too, “ may go in peace.”

Today we remember Nicholas Copernicus and Johannes Kepler, Astronomers, 1543 and 1630, and their information may be found at: Nicholas Copernicus & Johannes Kepler

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (For use by a sick person for healing: BCP p. 461).

O God, the source of all health: So fill my heart with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy I may make room for your power to possess me, and gracefully accept your healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.