Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.’ ”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, January 25, 2021
by Daniel D. Maurer, Clergy Stuff
One thing to keep in mind when you read about Jesus healing others in the Gospels (and there LOTS of healing stories) is that Jesus’ actions are more than him being a super-cool doctor or magician.
In every healing story, there were real human beings who hurt. Jesus’ first inclination is one of compassion. I have to work at compassion sometimes. Sometimes it’s just easier for me to separate myself from other people, to see their difficulties and pain as their own. Well, it is theirs, but we are all connected! It’s simple to forget that point of connection.
Jesus reminds us to stay connected, not only with ourselves and people who we care about, but also with others. We don’t need to be afraid. God is great and will allow our compassion to go on. And on and on and on. We can be like Jesus in this respect more than we might realize.
God, open others pain to me. Help me to be compassionate. Amen.
