Monday 5 December 2022

Today is Monday the 5th of December, in the second week of Advent.


The Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Advent Song’.

As you hear the words of our closing Advent prayer sung, take the opportunity to reflect a little deeper on each word and phrase…

God of wisdom
Lord and ruler
Root of Jesse
King of David
Rising sun
King of the nations
Immanuel
Immanuel
Immanuel
Immanuel
Lord Jesus, come
Lord Jesus, come
Lord Jesus, come
Lord Jesus, come
God of wisdom
Lord of ruler
Root of Jesse
King of David
Rising sun
King of the nations
Immanuel
Immanuel
Immanuel
Immanuel
Lord Jesus, come
Lord Jesus, come
Lord Jesus, come
Lord Jesus, come

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.


Luke 5: 17-26

One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting nearby (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. Just then some men came, carrying a paralysed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, ‘Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven you”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the one who was paralysed—‘I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.’ Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’

Jesus responds to the faith of the paralysed man’s friends. They have faith in Jesus and faith for their friend. Do we have faith enough on our own behalf, or that of our friends, to believe in the power of God’s loving forgiveness? What would we be ready to do to receive that gift?

The man is paralysed by physical illness. The Pharisees are spiritually paralysed by their inability to see beyond their own limited view of how God should be and act. Are there ways in which Jesus surprises you in what he says and does? Try to imagine yourself in this scene. How does it touch you and invite you to grow in faith, hope and love?

As we listen again to the reading, notice what strikes you and why. Are there particular words or feelings that stay with you?

The paralysed man stands up and walks when Jesus bids him to do so. Take some time now to listen to him talking to you. Is there some way in which he is inviting you to take courage and move?

O Wisdom
Lord and Ruler
Root of Jesse
Key of David
Rising Sun
King of the Nations
Emmanuel
Come, Lord Jesus