Asking for a Miracle – sermon on April 10, 2016
Mark 6: 53-56 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. Acts 3: 1-10 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Sermon: Asking for a Miracle by Rev. Doreen Oughton This morning’s Scriptures paired to make the point that what happened when Jesus was alive continued after his death, resurrection and ascension, through his followers. Scripture tells us these and other stories of miraculous healing Sometimes I wonder if these are relevant to us today. I reframe healing, defining it as finding peace, acceptance, connection or spiritual grown. And that is enough, right? Afraid to believe in “get up and walk” healing miracles because they raise questions about why some and not others. Talked about in bible study – mature faith accepts the mystery of it – God will do what God will do. Doesn’t mean favor or disfavor. There are still “get up and walk” healing miracles even in modern times. New film “Miracles from Heaven” based on a true story. (Healing stories from book Miracles) Mark passage has people taking the initiative, seeking out Jesus for healing, begging just to touch his robe. Jesus more passive, though in other stories he lays hands, speaks words, rubs mud, takes the hand of someone. In Acts story the lame man initiates contact, but asks only for money. Sometimes we ask, sometimes it is offered without our asking. Today I am offering a chance to be prayed over for healing. You don’t have to say what is in need of healing, you just come and sit, we’ll lay hands, I’ll say a prayer. Others can come forward and join in laying on of hands, or stay in your seat and direct your prayers towards the person here, or for your own healing, or for someone else. The Divine Economy by Sheila Cassidy I believe no pain is lost. No tear unmarked, no cry of anguish dies unheard, lost in the hail of gunfire or blanked out by the padded cell. I believe that pain and prayer are somehow saved, processed, stored, used in the Divine Economy. The blood shed in Salvador will irrigate the heart of some financier a million miles away. The terror, pain, despair, swamped by lava, flood or earthquake will be caught up like mist and fall again, a gentle rain on arid hearts or souls despairing in the back streets of Brooklyn. May it be so.
