“I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home” – Luke 5:17-26
Our Advent journey holds the anticipation of God’s promise to send His son to redeem us. In Luke’s Gospel we see the anticipation of four men who are willing to go to great extremes to have their friend healed. The zeal, faith and trust these individuals have for Jesus’ compassion and mercy will let nothing hold them back. From a roof they lowered a stretcher with their friend on it into the room in front of Jesus.
During this second week of Advent, do you still have the zeal you felt earlier for this special season of renewal or has a little of it slipped? Are you glorifying God for all the wondrous gifts He has given to you? Are you lost in the crowd of worries, fears, and everything you think you must do? Maybe today you need to put all this ‘stuff’ on a stretcher, place yourself in front of Jesus and be open to His voice.
We need to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and to strengthen our faith and trust. When He says to us, “rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home,” we will find the stretcher lighter, it will be easier to stand and walk, to continue our journey with Jesus through this season of Advent.
Today, Lord Jesus, let us be open to Your healing touch, Your compassion and mercy.
Amen.
Mary Joy Hurlburt
To view the full Advent 2022 booklet in English, click here.
For Spanish, click here.
For French, click here.