Louise Gevers
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' And immediately the leprosy left him. Luke 5:13, NIV
Touch is a fundamental human need, whether as a physical gesture, or as an emotion of the heart, as it is necessary for physical and emotional well-being; it also plays a crucial role in enhancing communication through warm, reassuring social conduct, seen in a handshake or hug, which acknowledges the person, specially.
Jesus’ sympathetic way of relating to the poor, forgotten, desperate and dying was remarkable, and has inspired others to emulate his compassion and caring as they engage with the sick and dying. Mother Theresa and Princess Diana are very well known for their caring and compassionate work amongst the poorest of the poor of this world, but there are many others that the world never hears about.
It was at Sunday School that I first learnt of leprosy’s existence, as our teacher told us the true story of Joseph de Veuster, a missionary who had gone to a leper colony on Molokai, a volcanic island in Hawaii to work as a pastor and doctor, and lived among them in a beautiful way, as Jesus would.
Joseph tended their physical needs, along with their spiritual and emotional needs, as they suffered from this incapacitating disease. I was wide-eyed as she described how, after years of working amongst them, he one day couldn’t feel the live coal that had dropped on his foot, revealing that he’d contracted the disease, and would die with them – so like what Jesus did for us.
I feel sure that Jesus’ manner of healing this person with leprosy, in our verse today, and treating him with love and dignity had inspired Joseph de Veuster. Although the man “was covered with leprosy” and would have lost parts of his body as a result, Jesus didn’t hesitate to respond to his faith compassionately, welcoming him by reaching out his hand, touching him, and lovingly saying, “I am willing … Be clean!” (Luke 5:13)
When last had anyone made this gesture to this man – stretched out his hand and touched him – shown genuine compassion?
Jesus not only could, but willingly healed him, and, immediately, gave him instructions that would ensure his freedom to return to society; and, after showing himself, healed, to the priest, welcomed to worship.
Jesus is willing to show us that same compassion when we turn to him in faith. Would we be willing to do the same for others?
Prayer: Gracious Lord Jesus, make your love and compassion shine through me to all those in need today as I follow your example with joy. Amen
Louise Gevers
Hy het sy hand uitgesteek, hom aangeraak en gesê: “Ek wil, word rein!” En sy melaatsheid het onmiddellik verdwyn. Lukas 5:13, 2020-vertaling
Aanraking is 'n fundamentele menslike behoefte, of dit nou 'n fisiese gebaar of 'n emosie is wat die hart aanraak, dit is belangrik vir beide fisiese en emosionele welsyn. Kommunikasie word ook bevorder deur 'n warm, gerusstellende aanraking, soos byvoorbeeld 'n handdruk of 'n drukkie, wat op 'n spesiale manier aan 'n persoon erkenning gee.
Jesus se simpatieke manier om die armes, vergete mense, die desperates en die sterwendes te genees, was merkwaardig. Dit het ander geïnspireer om wanneer hulle by die siek en sterwendes betrokke is sy deernis en sorg na te volg. Moeder Theresa en prinses Diana mag miskien welbekend wees vir hulle omgee en deernis vir die armstes van die armes in hierdie wêreld, maar daar is baie ander van wie die wêreld nooit eers hoor nie.
Dit was in die Sondagskool waar ek vir die eerste keer van die bestaan van melaatsheid gehoor het toe ons onderwyser vir ons die ware verhaal vertel het van Joseph de Veuster, 'n sendeling, wat na 'n melaatse kolonie op Molokai, 'n Hawaise eiland, gegaan het om as leraar en dokter te werk en, net soos Jesus sou gedoen het, tussen hulle te woon.
Joseph het na hulle fisiese, sowel as na hulle geestelike en emosionele behoeftes omgesien, terwyl hulle aan hierdie vernietigende siekte gely het. Ek was verstom toe sy vertel hoe Joseph, na jare se werk onder hierdie mense, op 'n dag nie die gloeiende kool wat op sy voet geval het, kon voel nie. Dit het beteken dat hy ook die siekte opgedoen het en dat hy saam met hulle sou sterf – soos wat Jesus vir ons gedoen het.
Ek dink Joseph Veuser is geïnspireer deur Jesus se genesing van die melaatse man in ons teksvers vir vandag en die manier hoe Hy hom met liefde en waardigheid hanteer het. Alhoewel die man bedek was met melaatse swere en heel moontlik reeds van sy liggaamsdele verloor het, het Jesus nie gehuiwer nie, maar met deernis op die man se geloof gereageer, "... sy hand uitgesteek, hom aangeraak en gesê: "Ek wil, word rein!" (Lukas 5:13)
Wanneer laas het iemand op so 'n manier na hierdie man uitgereik – sy hand uitgestrek en hom aangeraak; ware barmhartigheid betoon?
Nie net kon Jesus die man genees nie, maar Hy wou dit doen. Onmiddellik het Hy vir die man instruksies gegee wat sy vryheid sou verseker om na die samelewing terug te keer, en nadat hy homself aan die priester gewys het, kon hy God weer aanbid.
Jesus wil dieselfde barmhartigheid aan ons bewys wanneer ons in geloof na Hom draai. Is ons gewillig om dieselfde vir ander te doen?
Gebed: Genadige Here Jesus, laat u liefde en barmhartigheid vandag vir almal in nood deur my skyn. Help my om u voorbeeld met blydskap te volg. Amen
Louise Gevers
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12, NIV
The popular saying at one time to inspire anyone facing a challenging situation, was: When the going gets tough, the tough get going”, which, true to form with the perceptive humour of human nature, soon became, “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping”, fairly summing up how little appetite people generally have for facing trouble or adversity.
For the Christian who has experienced trials – is there anyone who hasn’t – they will know that it’s a test of faith and it can be very difficult to do as James urges “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1) to “consider it pure joy … whenever you face trials of many kinds,” even if you already believe “that the testing of your faith develops perseverance …” (James 1:2-3) No doubt James speaks from personal experience.
The irony of enduring a trial is that at a time of crisis, when we are struggling – on whatever level – we are challenged to be strong, to search deep, and fight to survive; but it’s as we cling to our faith, that we can discover that we truly “have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives [us].” (Philippians 4:13, GNT) We learn things that we wouldn’t ordinarily learn in good circumstances; and, just as our physical muscles strengthen each time we train, so we grow increasingly stronger in spirit and faith with each new trial.
For 26-year-old Katherine Wolf, (to whom I referred yesterday) unable to walk, talk or swallow as she lay in ICU for 40 days, after suffering a massive brain stem stroke, it’s hard to know when the full reality of this immense trial penetrated her consciousness, but over the years of excruciatingly slow progress, and setbacks, (she is now 43-years-old) she has grown in faith and new ability and can embrace her new life as a new person. Walter Elliot’s words best describe the kind of trial Katherine experienced: “Perseverance is not a long race; it’s many short races one after the other.”
She discovered that James 1:4 (GNT), “Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing,” was a key verse in helping her persevere positively as she faced many more challenges. It helped her mould her perspective as she worked with hope on healing her body and mind, learning to walk, talk and eat again.
In Katherine’s words: “Brokenness can lead to a kind of healing that makes us more whole than we ever were before the breaking … The best fruit in my life grew from the soil of my worst moments.”
How are we dealing with our worst moments? We can trust Jesus: he encourages anyone experiencing trouble or adversity. He knows where we are. "... in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Prayer: Loving Father, may you strengthen me as you heal my brokenness and help me to persevere under trial to receive the crown of life that Jesus has promised those who love him. Amen
Louise Gevers
Gelukkig is die man wat versoeking deurstaan, want as hy die toets slaag, sal hy die oorwinningskrans van die lewe ontvang, wat God beloof het aan hulle wat Hom liefhet. Jakobus 1:12, 2020-vertaling
Daar is 'n gewilde sêding in Engels wat dikwels gebruik word om iemand wat hom in 'n uitdagende situasie bevind, aan te moedig: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going"; getrou aan die humoristiese aard van die mensdom, het dit egter gou verander na: "When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping". Dit is 'n goeie opsomming van die min aptyt wat mense in die algemeen vir probleme of teëspoed het.
Christene wat versoekings en beproewings beleef het – en het ons nie al almal nie – sal weet dat dit 'n toets vir geloof is en dat dit wat Jakobus van "die twaalf stamme in die Diaspora" (Jakobus 1:1) verlang, baie moeilik is. Hy sê: "Beskou dit as 'n groot vreugde ... wanneer allerhande versoekings julle oorval, omdat julle weet dat, as julle geloof getoets word, dit volharding meebring." (Jakobus 1:2-3) Sonder twyfel praat Jakobus uit persoonlike ervaring.
Die ironie is dat wanneer ons in tye van krisis getoets word, wanneer ons sukkel – op watter vlak ook al – word ons uitgedaag om sterk te wees, diep te delf en te veg vir oorlewing; maar dit is wanneer ons aan ons geloof vashou dat ons ontdek dat ons "tot dit alles ... in staat [is] deur Hom wat [ons] krag gee". (Filippense 4:13) Ons leer dinge wat ons nie noodwendig in goeie tye sal leer nie. Net soos ons spiere elke keer wat ons oefen sterker word, word ons ook toenemend met elke nuwe versoeking en beproewing sterker in gees en geloof.
Die 26-jarige Katherine Wolf (na wie ek gister verwys het), kon na 'n ernstige beroerte nie loop, praat of sluk nie en sy was vir 40 dae in die intensiewesorgeenheid. Dit is baie moeilik om te bepaal wanneer die volle werklikheid van hierdie groot beproewing tot haar deurgedring het, maar oor die jare van verskriklike stadige vordering en terugslae (sy is nou 43 jaar oud) het sy in geloof gegroei en kan sy as 'n nuwe mens haar nuwe lewe voluit leef. Walter Elliot se woorde: "Perseverance is not a long race; it’s many short races one after the other” is 'n goeie beskrywing van die soort beproewing wat Katherine beleef.
Sy het ontdek dat die woorde van Jakobus 1:4: "Maar julle volharding moet tot volledige ontwikkeling kom, sodat julle volmaak en sonder gebrek kan wees, en in geen opsig tekort skiet nie" 'n sleutelteks was om haar te help om positief te bly volhard in al die uitdagings wat sy moes verduur. Dit het haar gehelp om haar perspektief te vorm terwyl sy met hoop hard gewerk het aan die genesing van haar liggaam en gees, om te leer om weer te kan loop, praat en eet.
In Katherine se eie woorde: "Brokenness can lead to a kind of healing that makes us more whole than we ever were before the breaking … The best fruit in my life grew from the soil of my worst moments.”
Hoe hanteer ons ons moeilikste tye? Ons kan Jesus vertrou: Hy bemoedig elkeen wat probleme of teëspoed ondervind. Hy weet waar ons is. "Dit het Ek vir julle gesê, sodat julle in My vrede mag vind. In die wêreld ervaar julle swaarkry; maar hou moed, Ek het reeds die wêreld oorwin.” (Johannes 16:33)
Gebed: Liefdevolle Vader, skenk aan my krag terwyl U my weer heel maak en help my om versoekings te deurstaan sodat ek ook die oorwinningskrans van die lewe kan ontvang wat U beloof het aan diegene wat U liefhet. Amen