grasping, day 1

Come to Stillness:

Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
Lord Jesus, forgive me when my bleeding and wounded heart causes me to grasp for life and relief from any and every source available.  Instead, help me to reach only for you—that I might touch the fringe of your robe and find healing and wholeness for the brokenness of my heart and soul.  In Your Name I pray.  Amen.  (JLB)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 16

Scripture for the Day: Mark 5:24-34

Reading for Reflection:

     grasping by Jim Branch

something is terribly wrong within her

a long slow bleeding of her heart and soul

has been her constant companion

for as long as she can remember

so many things

she has tried

to make the bleeding stop

or to make her feel better

for at least a moment

but the long line of solutions

have failed her

so here she stands

even worse off than she was before

desperately grasping

for wholeness

or healing

or even a glimmer of hope

maybe Jesus…

maybe He will…

be able

to stop the bleeding

of her weary heart

“if only I can get near enough

to reach and touch”

and when she finally

grasps for him

the bleeding stops

the wound is healed

the broken is made whole

relief streaks down

her tearstained cheeks

freedom

finally

he turns and looks

his eyes meet hers

she falls to her knees

in fear and confusion

“daughter”

He  tenderly whispers

to the depths of her heart and soul

indescribable intimacy

in the middle of a crowded street

“go in peace”

with a gentle smile upon his lips

knowing

this is what she most deeply longs for

“be freed from your suffering”

and indeed she is

no more bleeding

no more grasping

only love

and in the midst of

her bleeding

and grasping

and healing

i am reminded

of my need

for the same

reminded

of the open wound

of my insecurity

of my grasping

for value and affection

when only One

offers the touch

that will bring wholeness

and freedom

so there is an invitation

for me

to a new life

of indescribable intimacy

and freedom

with the One

who calls me his “son”

with the One

that whispered me into being

and longs for

wholeness

and freedom

for me

if I will let go

of all of the ways

of my grasping heart

and just reach out

for the edge of his robe

pray that I have the courage

 to reach out

like the woman

We mostly spend our lives conjugating three verbs: to Want, to Have, and to Do.  Craving, clutching, and fussing, on the material, political, social, emotional, intellectual—even on the spiritual—plane, we are kept in perpetual unrest: forgetting that none of these verbs have any ultimate significance, except so far as they are transcended by and included in, the fundamental verb, to Be: and that Being, not wanting, having and doing, is the essence of a spiritual life. (The Spiritual Life by Evelyn Underhill)

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Tender Mercy

Hear my cry for mercy
As I call to You
As I lift my hands in Spirit
And in Truth

 

We cry mercy
(in the name of the Father most Holy)
We cry mercy
(in the name of the Son Who was slain)
Lord have mercy
(in the name of the Spirit indwelling)
Tender mercy Lord
You are mercy
(in the name of the Father most Holy)
You are mercy
(in the name of the Son Who was slain)
Lord have mercy
(in the name of the Spirit indwelling)
Tender mercy Lord

 

           In Your tender mercy
          Brought by grace through faith
          I will lift my heart
          Toward Your most Holy place

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me the grace and the strength and the courage to take off that which I use to cover myself; and to clothe myself only and always in you alone. Amen. (JLB)