“The Compassion Of The LORD!”

“The Compassion Of The LORD!”(Jam.5:13-20).
What is common in the three lessons and psalm of this Sunday’s lectionary are: the sinner, prayer, God’s forgiveness and restoration, then praise in recognition of what the LORD does.
The psalmist begins by asking his soul and all his inmost being to praise the LORD. The LORD forgives our sins and heals our diseases. He redeems us and crowns us with love and compassion.” The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” He does not always accuse us and does not harbor his anger forever. “He does not treat us as our sins deserve…”(Ps.103:1-13).
In the first reading from Micah, the prophet asks, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will thread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depths of the sea…”(7:18-20).
In the gospel of Mark, some men brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. Because the crowd was thick and they couldn’t wade through to get to Jesus, they made an opening on the roof and lowered the man to Jesus. “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.'” As usual the teachers of the law who were there considered Jesus had gone too far to the extent of forgiving sins. For them, that was blasphemy because God alone can forgive sins. To shut their mouths, Jesus told them he had authority not only to forgive sins but to heal. He then ordered the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man did just that to the amazement of everyone present. They praised God saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Now to the text of today, James writes:
“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective…”
In simple language, prayer is conversation with God in which the supplicant makes a solemn request for help or express thanks to God. I call it conversation because when you pray you are expecting an answer.
We are serving a compassionate God whose immeasurable mercy and grace disappoints our adversaries. We have ignored the exhortation, “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” Can we be healed if our delight is in exposing the sins of each other and sugar-coating our own, instead of confessing to each other?
Humanly considered, there is no righteous man! If there is, then Christ died for nothing. But when we confess our sins God’s forgiveness makes us righteous and our prayers become powerful and effective!
We move together when we hold each other’s hands and always lifting up the fallen.
Dear friend, if we are honest to ourselves let us think about this: “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins.”
Sunday prayer: Heavenly Father in your mercy hear our prayers. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.