Reflection for February 19

Mark 2:13-22

Jesus went out again beside the lake; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax-collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax-collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ When Jesus heard this, he said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding-guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.

‘No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.’

Reflection – Mary Kercher

My Grandma Thompson was one of the most important persons in my life. Hers was a life of walking with Jesus through prayer, fasting and service to those in need of spiritual guidance. She wrote her experiences down in a book called The Voice that Spoke to Me. One story is of a neighbor whose husband was bedfast. His wife asked Grandma to make his favorite dish because she had an icebox and they did not.

Walking to their home, she heard the Voice say, “When you bring food for the body, you must also bring food for the soul.” Now I knew why I was asked to do this favor and I knew what God expected of me. This Voice always makes every demand clear. On entering the sick room, I found one of the largest men, a giant in size and voice. I put the basket of food on a chair nearby and said, “I trust you’ll enjoy what I’ve brought you.” I was trying to bring about a conversation.

 At the same time I discovered his surprise for he knew nothing of this arrangement, and neither was he overly pleased. Soon I asked if he would like for me to offer a prayer and he just gave me a strange look. I could see it wasn’t very welcome. Then the Voice guided me to kneel by his bedside and I placed my hand upon his large ones. I prayed as God directed. Then saying goodbye, I went out of this home. The Voice told me, “You must repeat this visit every other day.” It isn’t difficult when you say, “Where he leads I’ll follow.” So I continued on and on with both food for the body as well as for the soul.

One day I had a visitor, the daughter of this man who had come to help with his care. She had learned of my visits, and I shall quote her exact words. “Oh, Mrs. Thompson, don’t stop coming to see my father. He is a different person since you’ve come into his life.” It seems he had been very cross and so difficult to please. Then, too, he had said, “Mrs. Thompson gets down on her knees by my bedside when she prays. She doesn’t sit in a chair. She is anxious to help.” So you see even the position while in prayer has its effect. To me I feel closer to God while on my knees especially when asking favors.

The story ends with him accepting Jesus as his Savior and dying in peace.

Lord, help us listen to Your Voice and follow Your direction with open hearts and minds towards anyone you send our way.