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Everlasting God, you give strength to the weak and power to the faint. Make us agents of your healing and wholeness, that your good news may be made known to the ends of your creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
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29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, 'Everyone is searching for you.' 38He answered, 'Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.' 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
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REFLECTION
Last week I was asked to share my story of disaster response to 2011's Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee at Luther Memorial, North Syracuse.. An important part of my own story of working with Schoharie Area Long Term (SALT) Recovery is focused on the ELCA's motto "God's Work; Our Hands." Those words have become a personal mission statement as God calls forth hidden gifts not only from me, but also from others with whom I have been graced to work. Our hands have joined with almost 40,000 volunteers from near and far to lend a hand to over 2000 homes and businesses affected by the storms. And, so I've been thinking a lot about hands. And, I'm full of questions about hands!
Our world calls us to focus on the busy-ness of our hands. In the "God's Work, Our Hands Sunday" now scheduled for September 13, 2015. ... God's work is done by hands in recovery ministry and by hands that stocking food pantries; landscaping yards; readying back packs for school children; painting homes. We value busy hands because we know that busy hands can change the world.
But does God only use busy hands? What about still hands?... quiet hands? Our reading reminds us that God uses quiet hands to bring hope and healing. Consider the hands of Jesus as he takes Simon's mother in law by the hand and lifts her up. Or the quiet hands of Jesus praying in a deserted place while it was still dark. Jesus' hands reaching out to touch those considered unclean by society. What of the hands that he sticks in the ear of one who is deaf... or uses to touch the leper.. to draw a line in the sand before a crowd wielding stones... or when a woman's hands poured oil on his head? '
As Jesus took time apart to pray, we also take time to offer quiet hands of contemplation and prayer. When God calls us to lay hands on someone in a healing service, our still hands offer comfort and peace in the midst crisis and illness. When my hands meet the open hands of a child kneeling at the rail, God welcomes that child into the bread of life. When your hands take the hand of your neighbor, praying not only for peace in our time, but also for an end to separation and violence, God's love is embodied in the community of faith.
In the Service for Healing (ELW p. 276) words of instruction remind us that we are called to use busy and quiet hands to do God's work. This week as we prepare for worshipful lives, may your hands be instruments of God's love.
Our Lord Jesus healed many as a sign of the reign of God come near and sent to the disciples to continue this work of healing---with prayer, the laying on of hands, and anointing. In the name of Christ, the great healer and reconciler of the world, we now entrust to God all who are in need of healing. (p. 276 ELW)
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