Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
THURSDAY, January 13 (Hilary of Poitiers)
Mark 2:1-12. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Back in Capernaum, Jesus preaches to Peter’s crowded street, perhaps from the stair landing outside his room. Four men, unable to get near, hoist their palsied friend to the flat housetop and lower him down behind Jesus through the trap door. We know from the gospels how Jesus loved this almost violent determination in people when they wanted to help. He doesn’t want people to sit and twiddle their fingers and say, “It can’t be done.” Jesus will heal and pardon the most helpless of sinners. Have I three friends who with me would bring one to him?
Do you know someone who is sick or in great trouble? Join with a few friends and carry him to God in strong, expectant prayer. Expect great things of God. (1936)
We should always be turning the name of Jesus Christ round the spaces of our heart, as lightning circles round the skies before rain.
—Hesychius of Jerusalem
PRAY for the Diocese of Lichfield (Canterbury, England)
Ps 18:1-20 * 18:21-50; Isaiah 41:17-29; Ephesians 2:11-22
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com or Oremus Bible browser.
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