Ordinary Time
February 27, 2022
Scripture Reading:
Luke 9:37-43a
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. –Luke 9:37-43a
Healing stories of Jesus are prevalent in all the gospels. Taking care of the sick is among the actions by which Jesus indicates he will judge the nations. (Mathew 25:36) When I double-checked the reference on this, I noticed my Bible has this section headed with the words The Judgement of the Nations. That took me by surprise, but it is addressed to the nations in Matthew 25:32. I have always considered this listing of actions as personal challenges, but it also requires us to take responsibility for our nation to be judged by how we treat others. No wonder Jesus thought it important that we all need to become one and work together for the welfare of all God’s children. In 2020, Oklahoma ranked 43rd in Overall health care and 48th in health care access. We as a state are clearly not doing our part in caring for the sick. The United States ranks 18th* in best health care in the world while ranking highest in cost of health care**. The higher cost of our care results from complex systems of pricing and profit-making. We can and should do better than that.
Prayer: Lord, make us advocates for the quality of care we provide as a nation. Amen.
*https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oklahoma
**Health Care Costs by Country 2022 – World Population Review See at https://worldpopulationreview.com › country-rankings
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.