Stretch out your hand and be healed

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I'm not sure if you feel this way, but for those of us who lived through the tragedy of 9/11, it is burned in my memory so deeply that I cannot fathom that there are young adults who may only have a passing awareness of it. I remember where I was and what I was doing, as well as the aftermath that held our country captive for so long.

It is important to recognize such a time in our history when Americans really pulled together to support each other. We suffered together, even with people we did not know. Although the pain of the victims' families was unique, we could feel the violence made against them in their loss.
 
In today's reading from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 6, we witness a very relevant exchange between Jesus and a man with a withered hand. 
 
Jesus told him . . .
"Stretch out your hand."
 
He did so and his hand was restored.
 
As a country, on so many levels, we need to stretch out our wounds to God. Desperately in need of healing, let us ask God to lift our hate for one another, heal our broken families, restore victims of abuse and stop violence against children and the unborn.
 
Are we ready to put these--and so many other sufferings--before God so he can restore us?
We could start by making a commitment to express to God our sorrow for the pain we inflict upon each other. For the times we have ignored or rejected him.
 
What is your "withered hand" that is in need of restoring?
 
This passage seems to indicate the importance of us trusting ourselves to Jesus and being active participants in receiving healing. 
 
What will that look like for you today?
 
Janet Cassidy

 

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