The Upper Room Daily Reflections
– Friday, 24 January 2014 “Shalom and Shelem”
Today’s
Reflection:
Read Luke 13: Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for
eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12
When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from
your ailment.” 13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up
straight and began praising God. 14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant
because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are
six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and
not on the sabbath day.” 15 But the Lord answered him and said, “You
hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from
the manger, and lead it away to give it water? 16 And ought not this woman, a
daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from
this bondage on the sabbath day?” 17 When he said this, all his opponents were
put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things
that he was doing.
The story about the bent-over woman is a story about healing,
wholeness, peace, and salvation. Shalom, a Hebrew word for peace, means
restoration of right relationships and a sense of well-being and serenity. When
Jesus spoke words of shalom to those who were disenfranchised and disinherited
by their society and religious community, it was far more than an everyday
greeting. Jesus was bestowing on them a very real spiritual blessing and the
restoration of right relationships.
Shelem, a Hebrew word for physical, emotional, and spiritual
wholeness, includes a person’s bodily health and well-being. Shalom and Shelem
can never be experienced separately. Peace, right relations, wholeness, and
health are intertwined. They do not exist for one person or one institution if
they do not exist also for the benefit of all. No one stands upright as long as
others remain bent over.--Helen Bruch Pearson-
Do What You Have the Power to Do
From pages 58-59 of Do What You Have the Power to Do: Studies of
Six New Testament Women by Helen Bruch Pearson. Copyright © 1992 by Helen Bruch
Pearson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more
about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Pray for someone (perhaps yourself) who is bent over physically,
mentally, or spiritually.
Today’s Scripture:
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.--1 Corinthians
1:18, NRSV
This Week: pray for those who are bullied.
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Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember:
This week we remember:
Agnes (January 21).
Agnes was young and beautiful. She was also, more importantly, a
Roman Christian during Diocletian's persecution against Jesus' followers. When
the girl refused the advances of numerous suitors, charges of being Christian
were brought against her. When at her trial she refused to offer worship of
pagan gods, the judge threatened her with various forms of torture. Agnes
remained true to her faith.
This twelve or thirteen year old girl was then sent to a brothel
to be used by any men who wanted her. According to tradition no man could
violate her because of her pure spirit. The girl was then beheaded (or burned,
or executed by sword, depending on which version of the story). She is buried
at the church of Sant'Agnese on the Piazza Navona in Rome.
Since the fourth century, Agnes has been venerated for her
chastity and faithfulness. Her emblem is the lamb, symbol of innocence and
purity (and also similar to her name in Latin).
Agnes is the patron saint of young girls.
If Agnes had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would
have been a Lover. Agnes is remembered on January 21.
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Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Isaiah 9: The Righteous Reign of the Coming King
1 [a] But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish.
In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of
Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the
land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 [b] The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great
light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has
shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its
joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the
harvest,
as people exult when
dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across
their shoulders,
the rod of their
oppressor,
you have broken as on
the day of Midian.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 9:1 Ch 8.23 in Heb
b. Isaiah 9:2 Ch 9.1 in Heb (New Revised Standard Version
Catholic Edition)
Yeshayah 9:1 (23) Nevertheless there will be no gloom in her in
anguish. In Et HaRishon (the former time) He brought into contempt Artzah
Zevulun and Artzah Naphtali, but acharon (afterward, in the future) did bring
to honor Derech HaYam (Way to the Sea, land between Sea of Galilee and the
Mediterranean), beyond Yarden, in the Galil HaGoyim.
2 (1) The people that walked in choshech have seen an Ohr gadol;
they that dwell in the eretz tzalmavet, upon them hath the Ohr dawned.
3 (2) Thou shalt multiply the Goy (Nation), and increase its
simchah; they joy before Thee according to the simchat baKatzir, and as men
rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 (3) For Thou hast broken the ol (yoke) of his burden, and the
mateh (staff) of his shoulder, the shevet hanogesh (rod of the task master) of
him, as in the yom of Midyan [See Judges 7:25). (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
Psalm 27: Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be
afraid?
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 27:1 Or refuge
4 One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek
after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my
life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his
temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on
a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all
around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts
of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and
answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I
seek.
9 Do not hide your
face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my
help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
(New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)
Tehillim 27:1 (Of Dovid) Hashem is my ohr and Yishi (my
Salvation); whom shall I fear? Hashem is the ma’oz (stronghold) of my life; of
whom shall I be afraid?
4 One thing have I asked of Hashem, that will I seek after: that
I may dwell in the Bais Hashem all the days of my life, to behold the
gracefulness of Hashem, and to inquire in His Heikhal.
5 For in the Yom Ra’ah (day of evil) He shall keep me safe in
His Sukkah; in the shelter of His Ohel shall He conceal me; He shall set me up
upon a Tzur (rock).
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies around
about me; therefore will I offer in His Ohel sacrifices with shouts of joy; I
will sing, yea, I will make music unto Hashem.
7 Shema, Hashem, when I call with my voice; chaneini also upon
me, and answer me.
8 When my lev said of Thee, Seek ye My face, my lev said unto
Thee, Thy face, Hashem, will I seek.
9 Hide not Thy face far from me; turn not Thy eved away in
anger; Thou hast been my ezer; leave me not, neither forsake me, Elohei Yishi
(G-d of my Salvation). (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
1 Corinthians 1: Divisions in the Church
10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no
divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same
purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are
quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.[b] 12 What I mean is that each of
you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to
Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified
for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God[c] that I
baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that
you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of
Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For
Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with
eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who
are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Gk brothers
b. 1 Corinthians 1:11 Gk my brothers
c. 1 Corinthians 1:14 Other ancient authorities read I am
thankful (New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)
Kehillah in Corinth I 1:10 Now I exhort you, Achim b’Moshiach,
b’Shem Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, that you all speak the same
thing and that there not be among you machlokot (divisions of dissension
11:18), but that you may have achdus (unity) in the same mind and in the same
way of thinking.
11 For it was made clear to me about you, Achim b’Moshiach of
mine, by the ones of Chloe, that there is merivah (strife) among you.
12 Now I say this, because each of you says, "I am of
Sha’ul," or, "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Kefa," or
"I am of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach!"
13 Has Moshiach been divided? Surely Sha’ul was not for you the
one talui al HaEtz (“being hanged on the Tree” Dt 21:23)? Surely it was not in
the name of Sha’ul that the Moshiach’s tevilah in the mikveh mayim was given to
you?
14 Modeh Ani Hashem that to not one of you I gave Moshiach’s
tevilah except Crispus and Gaius (Ro16:23),
15 Lest anyone should say that in my name you were given the
Moshiach’s tevilah.
16 Now I gave Moshiach’s tevilah also to Stephanas’ household;
as to the rest, I do not know if I gave Moshiach’s tevilah to anyone else.
17 For Moshiach did not send me to give Moshiach’s tevilah in
the mikveh mayim, but to preach the Besuras HaGeulah, not by means of the
lomdes (cleverness, erudition) of the rhetoric of Bnei Adam, lest the gevurah
(power) of HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem (the Tree of the Curse of G-d—Dt 21:23) of
Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach be buttel (cancelled out).
18 For the message of HaEtz HaKelalat Hashem (the Tree of the
Curse of G-d—Dt 21:23) is narrishkait to the ones perishing. But to us who are
being delivered in Yeshu’at Eloheinu, it is the gevurat Hashem (the power of
G-d). (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
Matthew 4: Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
12 Now when Jesus[a] heard that John had been arrested, he
withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the
sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken
through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the
sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great
light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven has come near.”[b]
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the
sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will
make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed
him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee
and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their
nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father,
and followed him.
Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People
23 Jesus[c] went throughout Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues and proclaiming the good news[d] of the kingdom and curing every
disease and every sickness among the people.
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 4:12 Gk he
b. Matthew 4:17 Or is at hand
c. Matthew 4:23 Gk He
d. Matthew 4:23 Gk gospel (New Revised Standard Version Catholic
Edition)
Mattityahu 4:12 Now, having heard that Yochanan was arrested,
Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach departed into the Galil.
13 And having left behind Natzeret, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach
headquartered in Kfar-Nachum by the sea, in the environs of Zvulun and Naftali.
14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Yeshayah HaNavi,
15 ARTZAH ZVULUN VARTZAH NAFTALI (To the land of Zvulun and to
the land of Naftali, Isa 8:23-9:1 [9:1-2]), the way to the sea beyond the
Yarden, Galil HaGoyim,
16 the people sitting in CHOSHECH RAU OHR GADOL (darkness saw a
great light), YOSHVEI V’ERETZ TZALMAVET (the ones living in the land of the
shadow of death), a light has dawned among them.
17 From then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to proclaim, saying,
LAlter LiTeshuvah (Immediate Repentance ), for the Malchut HaShomayim has come
near.
18 And walking beside Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), Rebbe,
Melech HaMoshiach saw two achim, Shimon, the one being called Kefa (Petros),
and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were daiyagim
(fishermen).
19 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says, Come, follow me, and I
will make you daiyagei adam (fishers of men).
20 And immediately, leaving their nets, they followed Rebbe, Melech
HaMoshiach.
21 And having gone on from there, he saw two other achim, Yaakov
Ben Zavdai and Yochanan his brother, in the sirah (boat) with Zavdai their
father, repairing their nets, and he summoned them.
22 Immediately, leaving the sirah (boat) and their father, they
followed Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach [Mt 19:29].
23 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went about in all the Galil,
exercising the ministry of moreh (teacher) in their shuls and of darshan
(preacher) of the Besuroh Tovoh (Good Tiding of a Joyous Event), the Besuras
HaGeulah (the Good News of Redemption) of the Malchut Hashem, and Rebbe, Melech
HaMoshiach went about bringing refuah (healing) to every disease and every
illness of the people. (Orthodox Jewish Bible)
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