Monday, December 6, 2021                          (today’s lectionary)
Together again, and the food is still hot
The power of the Lord was with Jesus for healing.
There’s a hole in my roof. It’s the truth, I wouldn’t spoof.
The Donut Man helped us educate our kids in Bible stories 30 years ago, and he is still singing in my head. One of his best songs is about the crippled man and his friends, as they lowered him down to Jesus.
Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing. They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.
Yesterday I spent a couple hours at the T-Mobile store switching our phones over, and the manager hobbled out to help. A big plastic boot covered his left ankle, which he broke at a jujitsu class. I wish we could have cut a hole in the roof for him. Jesus doesn’t play favorites, he would have looked in his eyes and healed his leg.
As for you, your sins are forgiven. And just so you know the Son of Man on earth can forgive sins, I also say, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He stood up immediately before them and went home, glorifying God.
And so did the rest of the crowd, his neighbors, his family, his friends.
The astonishment seized them all and they glorified God. Struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”
Sunday was gray and rainy. It was dark early … Advent is surely upon us. Christmas trees were selling in front of Whole Foods, and Christmas music spilled out onto sidewalks. A local farmer’s market was bursting with cinnamon and peppermint and spiced apple candles. But the sky didn’t lie: the sun set, and night fell.
Problems beset us at the T-Mobile store, and it was three hours before I got back home. I had Margaret’s phone, along with my own, and she worried. I didn’t think of sending her an email. Next time, next time we’ll do that differently. She fixed fancy salmon with pecans, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar for dinner, but I wasn’t here to eat it.  Then at last the deal was done, I made it home, and the food was still hot.
Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Our God will come to save us!
A few phone calls later, our phones announced that our account was suspended. No more phone calls or texts for us, not till we pay our bill. The balance on our bill is zero, but the system wouldn’t let me pay … zero. We were cut off from the rest of the world, at least via our phones, but we were no longer lost to each other. And that made all the difference. We slept well. Maybe even better. It’s not all bad to drop off the face of the earth for a few hours at the beginning of winter, not when we’re dropping off together.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, who comes with vindication. And then, the tongue of the mute will sing.
 (Isaiah 35, Psalm 85, Luke 5)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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