Thought for the Day, 5^th May 

Costly love

Bible Extract : Luke 5, vv.12-16

Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, “I do choose. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. “Go”, he said, “and show yourself to the priest and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.” But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray. 

Reflection

St Luke, according to tradition, was a doctor and his gospel is filled with stories of healings performed by Jesus during his ministry. These incidents are usually tender, revealing not only the Lord’s power, but also his compassion for each individual; in this example, Jesus listens to the man’s plea, picking up on his word “choose” and assuring him that it is his choice to make him well. This extract also hints at the cost of Jesus’ celebrity, noting the Lord’s need to withdraw on his own to pray; even he had to have down time in which to recharge his batteries. 

An interesting article in this week’s Church Times, “Faith that finds life in death” by Martin Bashir, describes how early Christians were remarkable for their reaction to pandemics of the time. A terrifying Ebola-like virus spread through the Roman world in the third century and Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria described how the behaviour of Christians differed from that of most of the population. Instead of pushing sufferers away and leaving them to die, his fellow believers “heedless of the danger…took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ.” Of course, with only rudimentary understanding of the disease, many of those carers died in the course of nursing and curing others, but they were inspired by the conviction that, in caring for individuals, respecting their humanity, they were serving the risen Christ. Bashir notes the very high number of medics in his congregation, observing, “They all stand in a long line of public servants, dating back to the earliest manifestation of Christianity.” 

Of course, whilst many Christians are engaged in key health and care work at present, so are many other selfless individuals of other faiths or none. But they are all exhibiting Christ-like behaviour, being prepared to risk infection in order to treat and care for patients as individuals. Jesus knew that his actions would put him on a collision course with the religious and political powers of the day but he went on, obeying his Father’s will to fulfil God’s loving purposes for humanity. Let us reflect with gratitude on the service of health care and other frontline workers, thanking God for them and lifting them in prayer. And let all of us look out for ways in which we can serve others – it may be as simple as a phonecall or dropping someone an email to let them know that we care about them. 

Prayers: from “Prayers for use during the coronavirus outbreak” (Church of England, CofE.io/Church Online)

Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us to love our neighbour and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you. In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick, and to assure the isolated of our love and your love, for your name’s sake.

Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick, and your wisdom to those searching for a cure. Strengthen them with your Spirit, that through their work many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.